Birmingham City have a number of players out of contract next summer, including a long-standing Blues veteran.
As things stand, Birmingham City are set to lose 10 players as free agents.
There’s some important names on that list and some expensive ones too, with Ivan Sunjic perhaps the pick of the bunch, along with the likes of Keshi Anderson and John Ruddy.
Another name set to see his Birmingham City deal expire in 2024 is Lukas Jutkiewicz.
The 34-year-old has been with Blues since joining from Burnley at the start of the 2016/17 season and he’s since made 317 total appearances for the club, scoring 64 goals along the way.
Lukas Jutkiewicz eyeing new Birmingham City deal
Jutkiewicz’s role at Birmingham City has changed over the past season-and-a-half.
He’s playing much more of a rotational role and especially now under Wayne Rooney, the big striker is very much second-fiddle to the likes of Jay Stansfield.
Jutkiewicz made a rare start last time out vs Coventry City but failed to impress that much.
Despite his changing role at the club, though, Jutkiewicz is hoping to play his way to an extended deal at St Andrew’s.
He told Birmingham Live:
“I would imagine we will have those conversations in the next few weeks about it [his future], but ultimately it’s about me as a professional providing the best service that I can for this football club, and trying to earn something.
“You have to earn things in this game and making sure, whether you’re the oldest player or the youngest player, you keep earning the trust of the manager and from a wider perspective getting the trust of the football club to earn a new contract. I would hope that those conversations will happen in the next few weeks.”
Should he get a new Blues deal?
Whether Jutkiewicz should get a new deal and whether he will are two different things.
He remains a well-liked name among fans having been a source of goals during some tough years at the club.
And despite being 34 years old, he’s still putting in the minutes for Birmingham City and he still gives his all.
His leadership and experience could be vital for the club this season and especially so if Blues continue to look at signing younger players.
But expect the club to want to replace Jutkiewicz with younger blood next summer.
Blues have a number of players out of contract in 2024 and it presents the club with a perfect chance to change things up and revitalise what is currently an under-performing side.
Jutkiewicz has been a good servant for Birmingham City and he may get a chance to prove his worth to the club, and he might yet take that chance.
But right now, it looks like Birmingham City need to move on from some of their old guard, and start afresh.