Exclusive: Don Goodman backs Birmingham City to seal double transfer swoop | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his verdict on Birmingham City's interest in permanent deals for Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies

Don Goodman believes signing Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell on permanent deals would be good business by Birmingham City this summer.

According to Birmingham Live, the Blues are interested in deals to keep both players at St. Andrew’s following successful loan spells.

The deals with Rangers saw Davies arrive in August, while Dowell made the switch during the January transfer market.

The defender featured 35 times in League One last season, while the midfielder made 19 appearances after his winter move, contributing five goals and four assists.

Dowell and Davies transfer verdicts

Goodman believes that Dowell and Davies would be good permanent additions to the side after their contributions to their League One title victory.

However, he has warned manager Chris Davies that further signings will need to be made to strengthen the squad if they’re to fight in the top half of the Championship next season.

“I would say yes in terms of making the loan moves for Kieran Dowell and Ben Davies permanent,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“They’ve performed so well this season, albeit at League One level, but they are part of a group that had great success together and no doubt will be ambitious next season to try and finish as high up the Championship as possible.

“And they will also need to add a bit more quality throughout the squad as well if they’re going to compete in the top half of the Championship next season.

“But a good starting point would be making players that did really, really well for you on loan last season permanent signings.”

Birmingham earned promotion straight back to the Championship at the first attempt, winning a record points tally of 111 on their way to the League One title, ahead of Wrexham in second.

Davies and Dowell deals make sense for all parties

Davies and Dowell proved very valuable parts of the Birmingham squad this season, so keeping them around makes a lot of sense.

It’s unlikely Rangers will want to keep both players either given how little they had played for the Scottish giants prior to these loans.

So this is a deal that could just work out well for everybody if it goes through, but Goodman’s warning that more signings will also be needed is quite true.

Birmingham blew away League One this season, but the step up to the Championship will be steeper, and they will need to bolster the quality in the squad if they’re to immediately be competitive in the top end of the table.