Birmingham City are expected to be busy in the final stages of this transfer window.
Tony Mowbray is beginning the process of building a possession-based side and therefore midfield acquisitions have been set as a priority.
Andre Dozzell joined on loan from Queens Park Rangers while the 60-year-old remained keen on raiding his former club Sunderland for Alex Pritchard.
The attacking midfielder sees his contract expire at the Stadium of Light in the summer and Mowbray was a huge admirer of the 30-year-old during his time in the North East.
Yesterday it was even reported that Birmingham were closing in on their second signing of the window; Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors midfielder Paik Seung-Ho while Liverpool wonderkid Mateusz Musialowski has also been linked.
Now, it has been revealed that the Blues are chasing Burnley winger Manuel Benson.
Birmingham ‘retain an interest’ in Manuel Benson
Birmingham are one of several Championship clubs – including Leeds United and Ipswich Town – who have ‘retained an interest’ in the Burnley attacker.
That is according to GiveMeSport, who claim that Benson is more likely to join the two promotion chasers than risk moving to a side lower down the table.
After all, the ‘electric’ winger, as described by EFL pundit Sam Parkin, did set the second tier alight last term.
Following his £3.4 million arrival from Royal Antwerp, Benson plundered 12 goals in 33 appearances, predominantly from the right flank, as he helped the Clarets clinch the Championship title.
The 26-year-old has since struggled for game time in the Premier League and has only played 100 minutes of football in the top flight and EFL Cup.
This will have been frustrating for a player who decimated the second tier last term and will be desperate to play regular football.
Signing Benson on loan would be a no-brainer
Birmingham will know their current position in the table isn’t an attractive proposition for most players, especially for someone who won promotion last term.
That makes it increasingly difficult for Mowbray’s side to challenge the sides at the top when a player becomes available.
In the case of Benson, it would be a no-brainer for any club at this level to sign him.
Statistically, he was one of the best wingers in the Championship last season, ranking in the top 4% against his positional peers for shot-creating actions, top 1% for progressive carries and top 1% for non-penalty goals, as per FBref.
Although it looks like an impossible task for the Blues to sign such a calibre of player, they would be laying down a marker of their ambitions if they were able to pull off a deal.