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The January transfer window is open and Birmingham City have work to do - both in terms of bolstering their squad in certain positions and cutting it in others.

The first month of 2020 will provide Pep Clotet and his rival managers in the second tier with the chance to bolster their squads for the rest of the season.

Clotet's role in transfers came under the microscope lately and he insisted he tells the club which positions he wants fortifying.

And, buoyed by the recent win at Luton, the head coach spoke of the importance of bringing in new recruits.

"We have been through a difficult situation in the last month because of the injuries that we had but now they are coming back to the team and we are getting back to strength.

"In the future we will be more solid and now is a good month, with the transfer window here to help the team and to make sure we do all we can to help the team not get back to the situation we were in a month ago."

So who could the Blues look to bring in?

We've gathered together a list of the players they have previously been linked with in this window.

LEE GREGORY

Birmingham City have been linked with Stoke City striker Lee Gregory.

The Daily Mail claims Blues are one of a host of Championship teams interested in the 31-year-old who has struggled to find the net since his summer move to the Potteries.

They claim Blues , Wigan and Middlesbrough are looking at a striker who could be allowed to leave on loan at some point this month.

LEONARDO MORISINI

(Image: Getty Images)

Birmingham City have tried to nip in and take Leonardo Morosini from under the noses of Ascoli, according to reports in Italy.

A story on website TuttoMercatoWeb claims Blues are trying to muscle in on the Brescia midfielder.

The site claims Ascoli ‘remain on pole’ and that the 24-year-old’s ‘entourage’ is in Brescia trying to sort out his future - and also credits Blues with an interest.

It even claims that Pep Clotet is trying to capitalise on his relationship with Brescia president Massimo Cellino to help the deal. The Blues head coach was assistant to Garry Monk when Cellino owned Leeds United.

He has played just three Serie A games this season, coming off the bench as an attacking midfielder. He has made only seven top flight appearances in total - but more than one hundred in the Italian second tier.

Full story here

MARCUS MADDISON

Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony has claimed he rejected two bids from Birmingham City for in-demand midfielder Marcus Maddison.

Maddison is widely expected to leave the League One promotion chasers in this window as his contract expires at the end of the current season.

Fellow Championship side Charlton Athletic have had a bid accepted for the 26-year-old, Peterborough confirmed in a statement today (Monday).

When one fan responded to the tweet saying Blackburn Rovers were one of the teams to have made a bid, MacAnthony replied and said, instead, it is Blues who have tried to sign Maddison.

It looks like he's off to Charlton but until the ink is dry....

DENNIS MAN

Birmingham City are being linked with a move for FCSB winger Dennis Man in the Romanian press.

Blues have been targeting additions to the squad this month as they look to pull away from the Championship’s relegation zone.

The 21-year-old, who can also play as an attacking midfielder as well as out wide, is regarded as one of the brightest talents in Romanian football.

He made his senior debut for the country in March last year having represented his nation at under-19 and under-21 levels.

Telekom Sport reports that Blues have seen an offer of 10million euros (£8.5m) rejected for Man by FCSB - formerly known as Steaua Bucharest until 2017.

Full story here

MYLES HIPPOLYTE

(Image: western daily press)

Blues are one of three clubs keeping tabs on non-league winger Myles Hippolyte, according to reports.

The Sun claims Blues , Middlesbrough and Gary Rowett’s Millwall have watched the 25-year-old recently - with the Lions said to be most interested.

London-born Hippolyte came through at Brentford but dropped out of the Football League without ever playing for the Bees.

He moved to Scotland in 2014, made 50 Scottish Championship appearances in a season-and-a-half at Livingston - and also won the 2015 Scottish Challenge Cup - and joined Falkirk in January 2016.

In January 2018 he moved to St Mirren and then to Dunfermline Athletic but his contract was terminated by mutual consent last May and he has spent this term with Yeovil in the National League.

Hippolyte is out of contract in the summer, as is current Blues winger Jacques Maghoma, while Jefferson Montero’s loan will end when the season finishes.

FULL STORY HERE

MARIO GAVRANOVIC

(Image: Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Birmingham City made a late bid to sign Switzerland international Mario Gavranovic just before the summer transfer window closed.

They made an enquiry for the 29-year-old with just a few hours left to go before the window closed at 5pm on Thursday, August 8.

In the end there wasn’t enough time for the forward to decide to move his family to the UK and Gavranović stayed with the Croatian champions.

Then on January 13 it was claimed Blues have rekindled their summer interest.

Croatian newspaper Novi list cites sources claiming Blues want to bring the 30-year-old to the Championship as they seek to bolster their striker options.

He has played 25 times, in the Croatian and Europa Leagues as well as cup competitions, but has started only eight league matches.

Gavranovic recognises he needs to play first team football to make sure he is in Switzerland’s squad for Euro 2020 and the report says he wants to go to a club where there is a good chance of regular games.

READ MORE HERE

IVAN TONEY

(Image: Getty Images)

Posh boss MacAnthony has scotched rumours Birmingham City have made a move for Ivan Toney.

The sought-after striker will be the subject of massive speculation during this transfer window having scored 15 goals to top the League One charts.

Preston North End have already been credited with an interest in the former Newcastle player, who has also been tipped for a Premier League move.

Indeed MacAnthony revealed during a Twitter conversation with a fan before Christmas that Birmingham City had been in touch regarding one of his players.

With Blues desperate for a striker that generated excitement that it was an enquiry about Toney.

However, he has used this official account to end that particular rumour.

Contacted by another Blues fan regarding a suggestion Toney could be on his way to St Andrew’s he killed the rumour dead in a single word.

‘None’.

READ MORE HERE

WES FODERINGHAM

(Image: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Blues have been linked with a move for Rangers goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.

According to the Daily Mail , Blues are tracking the 28-year-old who has been on the club's radar previously.

Foderingham was linked with a move to St Andrew's in 2015 when he was released by Swindon.

But it never came to light, and the the former England under-19 international went on to join Rangers.

Since arriving at Ibrox, Foderingham has made 110 league appearances, enjoying a relatively successful four years,winning Scottish Championship and Scottish Challenge Cup in that time.

Though, nowadays, Foderinham plays back-up to Allan McGregor - making only four appearances across league and cup this season - and he could be open to a move in the winter window.

FULL STORY HERE

ASMIR BEGOVIC

(Image: Phil Harris)

Birmingham City were linked with a move for experienced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

The 32-year-old stopper was playing for Qarabag in Azerbaijan, on loan from Bournemouth.

According to The Sun, Blues were monitoring the situation but faced competition from West Ham United, Derby County and PSV Eindhoven.

Begovic has two-and-a-half years left to run on his current contract at Bournemouth, which is said to be worth £60,000 a week.

On January 3 Sky Sports claimed West Ham have been offered the chance to take Asmir Begovic on loan.

However, he's instead joined AC Milan as a replacement for Pepe Reina.

Full story here

CRAIG MACGILLIVRAY

Birmingham City have emerged as contenders to sign Portsmouth goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, according to the Scottish Sun.

MacGillivray, 26, has proved to be an inspired signing for Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett and has been virtually ever-present since arriving at Fratton Park in 2018.

The goalkeeper has kept six clean sheets in 20 appearances for Portsmouth this season, including a shut-out against Blues in the Carabao Cup in August.

And he’s in demand heading into January with Blues, Scottish giants Rangers and Huddersfield Town all reportedly interested in him.

Intriguingly Kenny Jackett dropped him for the Gillingham game on New Year's Day.

Full story here

DWIGHT GAYLE

(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

Birmingham were interested in bringing Newcastle United striker to the club ahead of the 2019-20 campaign - so could they look at a second attempt in January?

Gayle enjoyed a stand-out Championship campaign on loan at West Bromwich Albion last season, scoring 24 goals in 41 appearances, leading the Blues to attempt to bring him back to this level, at St Andrew's, this time around.

Nothing came of it, with the 29-year-old remaining at his parent club.

Injury and Steve Bruce's selection limited Gayle at the start of the season but he has become a more regular sight at the top of Newcastle's team in the last month.

After a slow start he has now made nine appearances this season, seven in the last month.

It was claimed on January 14 he'd been offered to clubs in the Championship, despite Bruce claiming he would not be dropping into the second tier this month.

Gayle is wanted by Nottingham Forest and former club West Brom, with both Midlands rivals desperate to add firepower to their respective promotion bids.

HERE'S MORE

NAHKI WELLS

(Image: Getty Images)

Blues are reportedly interested in a January move for Burnley forward Nahki Wells, after being linked in the summer.

The Sun (November 3 edition) claimed Blues could look to take Wells from his current loan with Queens Park Rangers as his parent club look to cash in on the player.

Wells is in the final few months of his Clarets’ contract but according to Sun journalist Alan Nixon, Burnley have an option to extend for another season.

And they could also be looking to cash in with the suggestion that Blues could launch a £6million bid for the 29-year-old when the window reopens having had a nibble at him in the summer.

Wells has bagged an eye-catching 12 goals in his 26 League appearances for QPR so far in 2019-20, including a New Year's Day hat-trick against Cardiff.

However a far more likely option is for him to sign permanently for QPR. Speaking on January 1 he said: "I reiterated it when I joined, I reiterated it a few weeks ago when things weren't going great.

"I'm enjoying my time here, I owe the fans a really good season and I'm onto that.

"I'm settled and I want to go on and finish this aim of getting in the play-offs and seeing what can happen from there.

"But who knows what's going to happen?"

GEORGE PUSCAS

The George Puscas saga was one that ran for the final few weeks of the transfer window.

Birmingham City were among a host of clubs across Europe who wanted to give the Internazionale striker the chance to relaunch his career.

In the end, despite interest from Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga, Puscas did opt to come to the Championship - to play for Reading where he signed a five-year contract.

Since then he has made a decent start to his career in the UK, scoring seven times for the Royals - and twice for Romania in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

However, despite being a matter of months into the deal designed to keep him at the Madejski Stadium until 2024, it has been claimed Puscas could be on his way, if not in January, then the summer.

Turkish website Ajansspor claims Fenerbahce still want to sign the 23-year-old and that boss Ersun Yanal remains an admirer.

Could that news interest the Blues?

READ MORE ON PUSCAS' FUTURE HERE

DENIS VIVAR BECERRA

Back in August, The Sun reported that Birmingham could make a move for Spanish defender Denis Vivar Becerra.

Becerra was last reported as a free agent as he was unattached to a club, meaning Blues could sign him on a free transfer.

The Sun's report said the Blues were looking at him, while head coach Pep Clotet knows the central defender and that relationship could mean he joins Blues 'shortly'.

Becerra spent last season playing with Malaga's youth side and has also had spells with Spanish clubs CD San Felix and Atlético Malagueño

HERE IS THAT REPORT