Birmingham City have just named Tony Mowbray as their new manager. But already the 60-year-old looks set for a big transfer blow.
Mowbray arrives to replace Wayne Rooney. It was a fairly swift appointment for Blues, but alongside their managerial search was growing rumours linking Jordan James with a move away.
Reports in Italy said that James was being eyed up by Atalanta and the latest on this front is that the Serie A outfit and James have reached an agreement, in a deal worth around £3.8million.
James is arguably enjoying his best career season so far with five goals in 24 Championship outings already this season.
His exit then would be a huge blow, and Mowbray will be wondering who might be able to replace him going forward.
New signings may be looked at, but Keshi Anderson could be the man for Mowbray.
Tony Mowbray needs Keshi Anderson to step up for Birmingham City
Brought to the club in the summer by John Eustace, who described the former Blackpool man as an ‘excellent’ player, Anderson’s absence over the past few months has been rather devastating for Blues.
In 16 games without Anderson, Birmingham City won just four. He recently came back into the fold though, making substitute appearances in three of Blues’ last four, and so it looks like Anderson could be eyeing up a return to the XI.
James’ exit may speed up Anderson’s return and the arrival of a more counter-attacking boss in Mowbray could see Anderson play a key role in the transition of play for Blues.
Although he claimed just one assist in his opening seven games for Blues before his injury, with no goals, he was earning high praise from Eustace, and Birmingham City’s form and lack of goals and attacking prowess without him in the XI, and under former boss Rooney, speaks for itself.
If Rooney had had Anderson fit and available then it might have been a different story for the former England man at Birmingham City.
But times have changed now and Anderson has a clean slate upon which to impress the new boss, who in spells at Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland favoured pacey attacking players who can play in numerous roles; the likes of Patrick Roberts at Sunderland was loved by Mowbray, often playing in different positions to cope with the club’s injury list.
With Blues looking unlikely to break the bank this month, Mowbray will have to do the best he can with what he’s got.
But Blues have some quality players in their ranks, with several of those in attack, and Anderson may well be the one who can lead the Mowbray revolution at St Andrew’s.