LATEST NEWS: Birmingham City and Phil Neumann latest after ‘€4m offer rejected’

Birmingham City have had a bid for Phil Neumann rejected by Hannover 96, according to Sky Sports Germany.

Reporter Florian Plettenberg claims Blues submitted an offer of €4m, with potential add-ons, for the 27-year-old who plays predominantly as a centre back.

Indeed the Scalke 04 youth product, who has also played for FC Ingolstadt and Holstein Kiel and Germany at Under-19 and U20 level, managed 33 games in the middle of Hannover’s defence last season as they finished sixth in 2. Bundesliga. He had 29 the previous campaign and has 157 second tier games under his belt.

Plettenberg claims Blues’ offer was knocked back and that Neumann, who has one year left on his current contract, could now be offered a new, improved deal until 2027. He is described as a ‘key’ player for the German outfit.

Blues Have already spent money on Christoph Klarer after a move for Sparta Rotterdam defender Mike Eerdhuijzen broke down. They currently have a rejuvenated Dion Sanderson and captain-elect Krystian Bielik as options at centre back.

Blues are thought to want to add another contender in that position, so that Chris Davies has two options for each berth but with Klarer, Sanderson and Bielik it is unlikely they would splash the cash on another expensive centre half. It is thought they want depth rather than a front-line starter for the role.

It seems likely that Blues have moved on from Neumann and opted instead to sign Klarer from Darmstadt so reports of this bid certainly does not indicate another iron in the transfer fire. More likely this is a report of previous interest.