Birmingham City could be forced to look for another centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window, with Chelsea considering recalling Jake Clarke-Salter from his loan spell, according to The Independent.

Clarke-Salter arrived at St. Andrew's on a season-long loan from Chelsea in the summer, with Blues looking to get some extra competition for places in that department. However, the 22-year-old had struggled for first team minutes under Pep Clotet during the first few months of the campaign.

However, following Dean picking up a three-match suspension, Clarke-Salter was given a chance in the first-team alongside Roberts, and the defender has produced some encouraging performances in the last few matches, which saw him keep his place in the side against Millwall last weekend despite Dean's return.

The England youth international produced another solid defensive performance on the whole against Millwall before scoring his first goal for the club to secure a vital point - and his recent form has caught the attention of a number of other Championship clubs heading into the window.

Here then, we take a look at THREE potential replacements Birmingham should consider if Clarke-Salter is recalled...

Luke Woolfenden

Woolfenden has enjoyed an excellent start to the season at Ipswich Town, with the academy graduate really establishing himself as a key member of the Tractor Boys' defence during the opening months of the campaign, forming a really solid partnership with Luke Chambers.

The 21-year-old offers composure in possession which would make him ideal for the Blues, as Clotet attempts to get his side to build the play from the back, whilst his defensive instincts are evident by the fact that Ipswich have kept seven clean sheets in 13 of the League One matches in which Woolfenden has started so far this term.

Ipswich would be reluctant to sell the defender considering they are pushing for promotion back to the Championship, but Blues might be able to tempt him to St. Andrew's given their style of play is likely to suit him and potentially help him develop him further.

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Kevin Long

Another option that Birmingham should consider in January to replace Clarke-Salter is Burnley's Kevin Long, who has found himself well down the pecking order at Turf Moor during the opening months of the campaign, with the likes of Ben Mee, James Tarkowski and Ben Gibson all ahead of him in their squad.

That has seen Long limited to just one appearance for Burnley in the League Cup so far this term, and having only made six appearances last season the time could be right for him to move on, which means that Blues could potentially make a move happen in January.

Long is a solid and reliable defender and would be able to provide strong competition with both Roberts and Dean.

Harry Souttar

Another promising centre half who is enjoying an excellent season so far in League is Harry Souttar, who has been in impressive form for Fleetwood Town on loan from Stoke City, with the defender making 15 appearances and helping Joey Barton's side mount a push for the play-offs this term.

Given his form so far this season, Stoke could well be reluctant to sell Souttar in January, but the Potters do have plenty of options at centre half, with the likes of Bruno Martins Indi, Liam Lindsay, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Danny Batth and the Ryan Shawcross all in Michael O'Neill's squad, which means were Blues to make a decent January offer they might be tempted to sell.

Souttar has demonstrated with his performances this season that he is ready to make the step up to the Championship, and he has the qualities needed to develop into an excellent centre half in terms of his ability in and out of possession.