Birmingham City chances of fresh Fulham transfer agreement become clearer | OneFootball

Birmingham City don't look likely to re-sign Luke Harris from Fulham

Birmingham City’s retention of Luke Harris for next season’s Championship campaign isn’t expected, with it looking like the midfielder will return to Craven Cottage.

Loaned from Fulham at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Harris made 36 appearances for the Blues during his first full season of professional football, but the expectation is that the youngster’s time in Birmingham won’t be extended, according to Birmingham Live.

There is a slight chance of a deal if Fulham’s asking price meets Birmingham’s valuation of the player, which could end up being a project worth pursuing due to the 20-year-old’s obvious potential.

Injury troubles and acclimatising to the league somewhat curtailed Harris’ chance of showing his full capabilities, so the temptation for a second year could be there for both parties.

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies likes Luke Harris

Birmingham boss Chris Davies enjoys an enviable position right now as the Blues’ boss, after guiding his side to a record-breaking 111-point haul to dominate the third-tier.

With an ambitious owner in the form of Tom Wagner ready to back him all the way, it’s a matter of selecting the perfect players for Birmingham’s return to the Championship.

Davies hasn’t been shy about his affection for Harris this season, nurturing him and paying real care to make sure his development was at the forefront of his time at St. Andrew’s.

Speaking to Birmingham Live after the Blues’ 4-0 demolition of Cambridge United earlier this year, Davies was full of praise for the youngster: “I made a special mention to Luke with the players after the game because he’s had to stay strong mentally. He’s a very young player on loan at a big club, he’s been in and out at times, it’s not easy but he trains so hard every day. He’ll run as much as everybody else every day, it’s never affected him.

“He has come in with the reputation of being a goalscoring midfield player and he does get into a lot of good positions in the box, but there’s been times when he hasn’t shown his quality.

“I’ve played Luke left, right and he’s a number 10, and sometimes you’ve got to take that into account, but what I will say is his energy and his appetite is exceptional. He’s so young and what he needs is game time to grow and improve.

The situation we’re in, it’s not always possible to blood the youngsters but he’s done very well, started the season well and that gives Luke a marker now to kick on.”

The step up to the Championship could be too much, too soon for Luke Harris

Although there have been promising signs so far this season, another year in League One could serve better for Harris’ overall development, rather than the jump up to Championship football.

The 20-year-old hasn’t been an ever-present in the Blues’ starting 11 this term, and therefore with the leap up to the second-tier, it wouldn’t be expected for the midfielder to claim a spot in the team there too.

Chris Davies used the term ‘natural rotation’ at the beginning of the last transfer window and for a team that is expected to have a healthy budget to play with, Harris may not find room in Birmingham’s squad.

However, after showing such a keen interest in his development, perhaps Davies would relish the opportunity to permanently bring the Fulham youngster to St. Andrew’s and be able to personally craft the next steps in Harris’ career.