Championship side Birmingham City may need a major makeover if they are to give themselves the better possible chance of remaining afloat in the second tier again throughout next season.

Finishing in 20th place, they enjoyed a relatively promising start to the campaign before their decline, with their form towards the end of the season a real source of concern for Lee Bowyer and his backroom staff.

Despite this form, Bowyer has managed to retain his job and at this stage, he looks set to guide the West Midlands outfit into the 2022/23 campaign, something that has received a mixed reaction from the second-tier club's supporters.

 

 

However, their potential takeover this summer could be a game-changer with a UK-based buyer previously reported to have been close to finalising the purchase of the Midlands side.

This switch in power could provide Bowyer or his potential successor with more money to spend in the transfer market in the coming months, with Blues potentially working within a tight budget under their current owners once again.

No signings have been made just yet but even without existing squad players being pushed down the pecking order, some of their futures at St Andrew's look uncertain and with that, we're taking a look at two of the second-tier side's current players who face an uncertain few weeks ahead.

Harlee Dean

Centre-back Dean believes he has no future at St Andrew's after making the temporary switch to Sheffield Wednesday in January, though it's currently unclear whether the Owls will make a fresh move for him.

Likely to be surplus to requirements in the Midlands once again, it's currently unclear where he will end up with his contract at his parent side not expiring until 2023.

Teden Mengi has returned to Manchester United and Kristian Pedersen is confirmed to be released on the expiration of his deal this summer, so there could be a spot for the 30-year-old in the first-team squad.

But it would be difficult to see him returning now following his comments to the media - because it seems as though he's resigned to leaving Birmingham in the coming months.

Whether Wednesday have the funds to lure him to Hillsborough permanently remains to be seen, so the defender may need to be patient and wait for the right club to come along before he jumps ship.

Lukas Jutkiewicz

With Lyle Taylor and Onel Hernandez both leaving, Jutkiewicz may be hopeful of winning more game time at St Andrew's but Bowyer is likely to address the forward department as a top priority considering the duo's departures.

Troy Deeney and Scott Hogan are also available as options, so the addition of one or two more strikers may push 33-year-old Jutkiewicz down the pecking order, leaving him surplus to requirements despite the fact he signed a new contract during the 2020/21 season.

According to Birmingham Live, this deal doesn't expire until 2024 but the club may not have the funds to terminate his contract early, so a club may need to come in for him if they are to offload him.

Having his salary off their wage bill may help them to bring in one or two additions in return and Bowyer may be tempted to put the experienced forward on the transfer list because of that, so it will be interesting to see what happens with his future.

The addition of one or two fresh faces in the coming weeks, with Blues able to move for out-of-contract players already, may create more uncertainty regarding his future in the West Midlands.