Birmingham City manager Pep Clotet has suggested that the Blues are determined to keep hold of the players with potential in their squad during the January transfer window, ahead of their trip to Cardiff at the weekend.

The Blues have enjoyed back to back wins against Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town to move to within just two points of the play-off places, and Clotet's side are beginning to show real signs of being able to adapt to the manager's style of play, and showing their ability to mount a potential promotion challenge this term.

However, having sold last season's top scorer Che Adams to Southampton in the summer, there is always the chance that other teams with bigger financial resources could come calling for some of Birmingham's key players in January, which is something the Blues will be hoping to avoid so they can continue to build on their positive start.

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail ahead of Birmingham's trip to Cardiff City on Saturday, Clotet insisted the club are determined to keep hold of their key performers in January, saying: "I think the club is very determined on growing from what we are doing and building from the position we are in now.

"I think it is fantastic that our players are playing so well and it’s fantastic if everyone wants them or they will have offers. I think that’s the best situation a club can be, a player can be, everyone can be.

"The club is very determined to keep the potential we have, to keep growing because it is still too early for this little idea of football we have to not put everything into it."

The Verdict

Clotet's message that the club are keen to keep hold of their best players in January will be welcome news to their supporters, who might have been fearing that the Blues would be forced to sell key players in the window, having already sold Adams in the summer window.

However, with Birmingham showing signs of putting together a promotion challenge, there should be a real effort to ensure that key players like Jude Bellingham and Maxime Collin to name just two remain at St Andrews following the end of January.

Clotet will be wanting if anything to add to his options in January, with a striker probably a key potential addition to help improve his side going forwards, and if Birmingham finish the window stronger than they were heading into it they will have a real chance of securing a play-off spot.