Birmingham City Boss Revealed High Plans “To Seal Two Players On Loan Deals” At Blues Because Of Their Impressive Season And What They…

Birmingham boss keen to secure Rangers midfielder permanently

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has expressed his strong desire to keep Kieran Dowell at St Andrew’s beyond his current loan spell from Rangers, following a stellar run of performances since his January move.

Dowell, who had struggled for consistent game time at Rangers, has thrived under Davies’ guidance. In just two months at the English League One club, the midfielder has made more starting appearances and scored more goals than he did in his entire 18-month spell at Ibrox.

His impressive form has made him a fixture in the Blues’ starting line-up as they look set to gain promotion back to the Championship this season. 

Davies has been full of praise for the former England Under-21 international, highlighting his crucial role in the team’s success.

“He’s definitely someone I have been really encouraged by since he’s come in and from my point of view, I want players like that here,” Davies told BirminghamLive.

The Birmingham boss also referenced his ongoing discussions with director of football Craig Gardner regarding potential squad additions and plans for the summer transfer window.

“My communication is always around that stuff with Craig, squad management and planning, and who I think can really help us, and I think Kieran has done really well,” he said.

Dowell’s performances have caught the eye not only of his gaffer but also of the Blues faithful, who have quickly taken to the creative midfielder.

His versatility has been a key asset, with Dowell filling multiple roles across the midfield and even taking over penalty duties from striker Jay Stansfield. His spot-kick heroics have contributed to important victories over Lincoln City and Stevenage since the beginning of March.

The playmaker’s ability to create and score goals has been evident, and Davies has made no secret of his interest in securing Dowell’s services on a permanent basis this summer.

“I don’t know the exact context of what’s happening there with him, but it’s definitely something we will have to look into,” Davies explained.

The uncertainty surrounding Rangers, with Barry Ferguson currently leading the club on an interim basis and an impending takeover, adds an element of unpredictability to Dowell’s future. His contract at Ibrox is due to expire in 12 months, leaving his next move uncertain.

Despite this, Davies remains hopeful that the 27-year-old, who Rangers signed on a free transfer from Norwich City in the summer of 2023, will continue to be a key figure for Blues in their push for the League One title.

“Players come in and you get a feel for them straight away, early on you could see his craft, his intelligence, and I think he suits the style of play I want to play as well,” he stated.

“Maybe with other managers he’s been under, they haven’t really been playing him to his strengths. That’s not a criticism of them, that could be the same for me with other players as well. He’s fitted in well to how we play.

“You can see he’s loving it. He’s played a lot of football.

“Like many of the players, Kieran was probably playing too much football before the international break and that was down to my decisions to keep playing some of them because we were having success but it was hard for them to go again every three or four days.

“He’ll benefit from the break. I think the fans will see that. He will graft, he will work, but he’s got a bit of quality.

“He’s had some decent moments to score or create for us and I think there’s a few more moments that he’s got for us between now and the end of the season.”