When Che Adams’ winner on the final day of the 2016/17 campaign ensured Birmingham City’s survival, Blues fans could not be blamed for believing their time towards the foot of the table was over.

Funds were poured into the first-team squad and the promise of a play-off push had many convinced that the former Premier League side could be on their way to the promise land once again.

Yet Redknapp was removed, replaced by Steve Cotterill who suffered a similar fate, with Garry Monk given the unenviable task of masterminding the great escape once again.

If he pulls it off then the former Middlesbrough and Leeds boss will know he has a huge summer of transfer activity ahead of him as he attempts to find the formula that turns this club around and this pair of top flight outcasts must be on his wish list…

Monk could look to utilise his well-established links with Swansea City to secure a deal for defender Kyle Bartley, who has appeared just three times in the league and looks to be on his way out of the Liberty Stadium.

Excellent at Leeds last year under Monk, the Swans opted to keep the 26-year-old who has failed to dislodge the impressive Alfie Mawson from the side, with the former Brentford youngster earning a call-up to the England squad for his excellent form.

Bartley is a top-level Championship player and a man who knows Monk well from their time at Elland Road and if Monk can convince the player that the latest revolution to take hold at St Andrew’s is legitimate, the Blues will have landed themselves an excellent partner for current man Harlee Dean at the heart of the back four.

The Leicester City man moved to Swansea on a loan deal to the end of the season in January but has so far appeared just three times under Carlos Carvalhal.

Looking likely to return to the East Midlands in the summer and a place in the starting eleven at The King Power a long way off, King could be tempted to drop to the second tier if the right offer were to materialise and should Monk he financially backed by the club’s owners, King could become a realistic target.

Only twenty-nine, King has plenty of time left and could earn himself a long contract when his next move eventually materialises, something Monk will surely be open to should King be willing to commit to St Andrew’s.

A lot must happen for this deal to take place but King is the type of man Monk must target should he wish to turn the Blues into feasible promotion contenders.

Surviving the drop this year is just the start.

 Blues fans, thoughts?