Revealed: What must happen before Wayne Rooney & Tom Brady piece together transfer spending spree at Birmingham

The Manchester United legend and NFL icon now fill roles as manager and investor at St Andrew’s, with ambitious long-term plans being drawn up. The intention for all concerned in the West Midlands is to clamber back into the Premier League.

Birmingham are among the play-off contenders in the Championship this season, and will hope to aid their promotion push by acquiring fresh faces in January. Alan Nixon on Patreon is, however, reporting that the Blues need to move three high earners out before bringing more bodies on board.

Scott Hogan, Neil Etheridge and Ivan Sunjic are all due to be out of contract at the end of the season and will free up funds when moving on. That is, however, of no benefit to Birmingham as they head towards the winter window.

Rooney will not be able to make wholesale changes to the squad that he has inherited from John Eustace at the start of 2024, meaning that he may have to wait until next summer before – while working with the likes of Brady and other members of the board – putting his own stamp on the playing staff.