Birmingham City’s season came to a close on Saturday, with the side finishing 20th in the Championship.

The Blues were fortunate not to get dragged into a relegation battle due to points deductions against Reading and Derby County.

But for those penalties, Lee Bowyer’s side would have finished level on points with the Royals in the battle for the final relegation place.

That should come as a huge wake-up call to the club that work will need to be done over the summer to improve the side ahead of next season.

It is unclear if Bowyer will remain in charge of the club going into the upcoming campaign, but that shouldn’t halt work beginning on reinforcing the squad in the transfer market.

It could be a big few months for signing players on a free contract, given the high volume of players running down their respective deals.

Here are eight such players that would fit perfectly into Birmingham’s squad… 

Grabban’s contract with Nottingham Forest comes to an end this summer and he could be a valuable pick-up for the Blues.

The forward has bags of Championship experience and performed quite well in Steve Cooper’s side this campaign.

While he is now 34-years old, he did still score 12 goals this season which is more than any Birmingham player managed.

That could make him a useful player to have up front, even if it is the case that he cannot play every game he could still add up to 10 goals to the team which would be a huge boost to their survival chances.

Thompson would be an important signing for Birmingham to make as he could bring youth to the team.

The Derby County midfielder is out of contract this summer and he could prove to be a very shrewd addition to the side.

The 20-year old played 23 times in the Championship this season and impressed in his performances for the Rams.

If he wants to maintain his status as a second division player then he could establish himself by becoming a starter in the Birmingham side that could also use his youth as a potential long-term asset to the club’s finances.

Berahino would also skew younger for Birmingham, at only 28-years old.

The striker has re-established himself in English football having performed well for Sheffield Wednesday this season.

The Burundi international bagged eight league goals and earned two assists, and he could be a very useful squad player to have in a potential relegation fight.

His important goals helped the Owls secure a play-off place in League One this season, showing he can still compete at this level.

The current Derby County goalkeeper’s contract expires this summer, and Birmingham should be looking to pounce.

Allsop would be a clear upgrade on the current options between the sticks at St Andrew’s and he would bring plenty of Championship experience.

The 29-year old was a key player for Wayne Rooney’s side this campaign and earned his place in the team against a seasoned veteran David Marshall.

If Birmingham could convince him to make the move then that would be a big signing to make this summer.

The former Ireland international would be a solid defensive addition to the Birmingham side.

Keogh was an important figure for Blackpool this season and has a ton of Championship experience he could bring to the Blues.

The 35-year old is still very strong in the air, commands his position well and can be a leader on the pitch.

While he likely couldn’t handle playing 46 times a season, he could still be an important signing who could help guide the team away from the bottom of the table.

Brady didn’t have the best season with Bournemouth, only appearing six times for the Cherries as they earned promotion to the top flight.

However, taking a step down to Birmingham could be a great place for him to rehabilitate his reputation and career.

The Irishman has performed at a high level in the past and has a great technical skill level that could add an extra dynamic to the Blues’ attack.

The 30-year old also has a versatility to his game that could be very useful to the side.

Klose’s short-term deal with Bristol City comes to an end this season, and he could be a worthwhile signing for Birmingham to make in the summer.

While he has previously had recurring injury concerns, the Swiss proved his fitness by playing 18 times for Nigel Pearson’s side since joining in January.

Klose is still a great aerial threat and has a great presence on the pitch, his experience and tenacity could be a great addition to the team as a free agent.

Wickham had a difficult season for MK Dons, arriving in January on a short-term deal.

The striker could only manage 13 appearances, with 11 of those coming off the bench for Liam Manning’s side.

The former Sunderland man will likely be available as a free agent this summer and could be a useful addition to the Birmingham squad.

The 29-year old will have something to prove after such a poor spell with Preston North End and MK Dons.

If he could contribute only a handful of goals that would still be a valuable contribution to the team.