Birmingham City manager Garry Monk says that completing a deal for on-loan midfielder Gary Gardner will not be a "simple" process, despite admitting it is a deal he would like to see happen.

Gardner has enjoyed an impressive season-long loan spell from local rivals Aston Villa this season, making 42 appearances and scoring twice for The Blues in all competitions.

Having spent last season on loan at Barnsley, Gardner hasn't made a single appearance for Villa in the last two seasons, and still has a year left on his contract at Villa Park, something Monk says could make a potential permanent move to St Andrew's difficult.

Speaking to The Birmingham Mail about the chances of Gardner returning to Birmingham, Monk said: “I spoke with all the players at the end of last season, with Gary - fantastic. You have to understand the situation, what we are going to have to work to - and Gary is not our player."

Any deal for Gardner could however be hampered by Birmingham's own financial restrictions, with the club having received a nine point deduction for exceeding Financial Fair Play regulations earlier in the season, and Monk admitted any deal would have to suit Birmingham financially, as he added: “I said it all along, if there is the possibility of bringing him back here and it fits into that financial structure and is right for him and right for us, one hundred per cent we would love to bring him back here."

Despite that, Monk is clear that he would like to see Gardner back at the club next season, concluding: “If the possibility is there and it fits within our budget then for sure we would love to bring Gary back.”

The verdict

This feels like it could be an indicator of the pattern Birmingham's summer transfer window is set to follow with regards to spending.

Having felt the consequences of over spending this season, The Blues will surely be careful not to make that mistake again, and that could well influence just how much they are willing or able to pay for any potential new signings.