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Kerim Frei's Birmingham City career could be over before it ever got going.

According to reports in Turkey, Frei is keen to leave the Midlands just four months after arriving.

They state that the winger is eager to return home, and back to Besiktas, the club who Blues signed him from for around £2million in January.

Since that move, Frei has made 13 appearances for Blues, but 10 of those came from the bench as he struggled to make an impact under both Gianfranco Zola and Harry Redknapp.

He scored a marvellous free-kick at Rotherham in April - a strike which won him goal of the season - but that offering has been the only telling contribution the 23-year-old has made in a largely dull start to life in royal blue.

Indeed Frei was left out of Redknapp's first squad for the derby clash to Aston Villa, and given a less than convincing endorsement by the boss.

When asked about his omission for the trip to Villa Park last month, Redknapp responded by saying: "We had David Davis, Jacques Maghoma a little bit stronger really. We went with that type of player.”

And the Blues manager has stuck with "that type of player."

Although Frei did manage to earn his place back on the bench for the final two games against Huddersfield and Bristol City, Redknapp stuck with Davis and Maghoma as his widemen and in neither match was Frei brought onto the pitch.

Despite only being at Blues for half a season, it's not too difficult to fathom why he would want out.

Frei was a semi-regular starter for a Champions League side chasing the title in Turkey's top divison.

After his move, he became a bench-warmer in a second tier team who narrowly avoided relegation.

There is still time for him to make an impression at Blues and there is a long summer ahead during which he can stake a claim for a starting spot to the manager.

But sometimes, transfers simply don't work out.

It would be perfectly plausible for the Turkish international to feel some degree of regret at putting pen to paper on his Birmingham contract, as he was hardly afforded a chance in a largely failing team this season.

His chances of returning home remain to be seen, but Frei's departure wouldn't be the most surprising event in a no doubt unpredictable transfer window.