The 2016/17 Championship season could prove to be a huge one for Birmingham manager Gary Rowett, as he looks to push his Blues side on to a potential play-off spot, after two mid-table finishes over the past two seasons.

Rowett has done a fantastic job at turning the Blues from relegation battlers in English football's second tier to knocking on the door of the top six, and being touted as possible contenders for a return to the Premier League.

Birmingham have already been busy in the summer transfer window with Rowett signing the trio of James Vaughan, Robert Tesche, and Ryan Shotton but with seven players departing the club already there is still room for more additions before the transfer deadline day.

Football League World writer Steve Day checks out FOUR players the Blues are unlikely to sign but definitely should try to bring in this summer....

 

Jon Toral

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The Arsenal youth academy product has been an influential presence in the Championship for the last two seasons, after loan spells with Brentford in 2014/15 and then Birmingham for the 2015/16 season.

Unfortunately, Toral has been loaned out once again by the Gunners but this time it is to Spanish club Granada.

It is a disappointment that the Blues cannot bring him in for another season at Championship level, but due to it only being a loan there would still be a chance to wade in with a permanent transfer deal.

Sadly, it is not looking like a realistic possibility with Birmingham not possessing the funds necessary to make such a move happen. Toral was such a key player last season and he could well have been the inspiration to guide them to a top six finish.

Federico Macheda

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During the 2013/14 season, Macheda lit up the Birmingham side for their Championship campaign with a flurry of 10 goals in 18 appearances, that would play a key role in keeping the club in the second tier of English football.

Fast forward to the present day and Macheda has become nothing short of an outcast at his current club Cardiff City, having been told by their new head coach Paul Trollope that he should find another club.

Birmingham would appear to be the ideal fit and even though the Bluebirds would not be looking for a fee for the 24-year-old Italian striker, it is unlikely that the club would be able to afford his wages and any move now might come too late with the striker being linked with a transfer back to his home country.

Tom Lawrence

Tom Lawrence

The 22-year-old Leicester City youngster failed to impress during his loan spell with Cardiff City last season, and he also failed to make the Wales squad for the 2016 European Championship even though it was because he was allegedly ruled out with injury.

The attacking midfielder is highly-rated and needs another season on loan with the chances of him breaking into the Foxes line-up looking very unlikely. The Championship would be the ideal destination for the Welshman.

One issue Birmingham suffered from last season was scoring goals as they hit the net just 53 times in 46 games. The creativity that Lawrence could offer from behind the front man could be the midfield zest that the Blues lacked last season.

David Nugent

David NugentDavid Nugent

The final player on this list is somebody who has never managed to impress at Premier League level but is a proven scorer at Championship.

Nugent was a brilliant squad player for Middlesbrough last season but now they have been promoted to the top flight of English football, he is now in competition with the likes of Jordan Rhodes, Christian Stuani, and Alvaro Negredo for a starting spot.

His goals to games ratio at Premier League level has never been higher than one goal in every five league games. However, his ratio at Championship level is consistently close to the one goal in every two league games mark.

It is certain that Nugent will be keen to keep playing regularly. He could provide the fire power that the Blues need to move on up the table and compete for a play-off position and put them on the brink of a return to the Premier League.

What do you think Birmingham fans? Are these four players that the club is unlikely to sign but you would love to see at the club? Let us know your thoughts below!