Birmingham City defender Cheick Keita is on the verge of securing a deadline day move to Serie A side Bologna, reports Sky Sports Italy.

The 21-year-old only moved to St Andrew’s back in January following time at Italian outfit Virtus Entella, but has since found regular football hard to come by at the Midlands club.

In fact, Keita has only managed 11 appearances for the Blues in the last eight months and has not featured in any of Harry Redknapp’s last four Championship matchday squads, with injury thwarting his progress following a substitute appearance on the opening day against Ipswich Town.

And it appears that his Birmingham career is at an end as reports suggest that Serie A side Bologna are set to secure a deadline day move for the defender, having reportedly agreed a fee with the Blues for the 21-year-old’s services.

The Italian side finished 15th in the top-flight last term but only nine points clear of the bottom three, so will likely be aware that further reinforcements are required to again retain their top tier status.

And they clearly feel that the talented Keita can come in and bolster their ranks ahead of the rest of the 2017/18 campaign, and with his Birmingham career seemingly coming to a halt in recent times, it’s a deal which appears to be in the best interests of all parties involved.

The Verdict: It has been a testing eight months for Cheick Keita at Birmingham City, who was brought in by Gianfranco Zola back in January in a bid to bolster his defensive options.

But things haven’t quite worked out for the 21-year-old at the Midlands outfit, and the arrival of Cohen Bramall from Arsenal earlier this month has pushed him even further down the pecking order, and now seemingly out of the club altogether.

A return to Italy, having joined from Serie B outfit Virtis Entella in January, with Bologna may be what he needs to kickstart his career once again in a move which appears to benefit all parties involved.

Birmingham fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!