Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that the Blues cannot hide behind their hamstring curse as they continue their search for the first win of the campaign.

The west Midlands club have had their attacking options depleted with the likes of Jota and Che Adams having suffered muscular injuries whilst Isaac Vassell won’t be fit to start after having recovered from his own hamstring niggle.

Despite this, Redknapp says whoever plays should provide the goals as they look to climb out of the drop zone in the early stage of the season. Preston North End are their next opponents over the weekend, and the manager knows that they have a tough task on hand with the Lilywhites, who possess the best defence in the division.

He said: “They are very strong defensively, they have done a great job and we need goals, we are short of goals so we need to find goals from somewhere on Saturday for sure. We have got great support, I think they know the importance of the win. They are not silly, they look at the players we have brought in and they know there is some quality there. But they know that three of them who are going to be massive players for the club in the future are not fit to start.” Continue reading “Harry Redknapp: Birmingham City can hide behind their hamstring curse” →

Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Sebastien Bassong is training with the Blues in order to improve his overall fitness.

The Cameroon international was released from Norwich City earlier this summer after making over 120 appearances across all competitions for the club.

Redknapp is currently in the hunt for a new central defender but has cooled his interest in Aden Flint after seeing two bids rebuffed by Bristol City. Bassong has previously worked with the 70-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur, and the manager hints that he could be the answer, if he proves his fitness.

“He’s on a free, he’s a good lad and a good player who played for me at Tottenham. He was player of the year at Norwich two years ago and he’s still a very good player in my opinion,” he said. Meanwhile, the west Midlands side have significantly bolstered their full-backs positions with the signings of Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall on season-long loans from Arsenal. Continue reading “Harry Redknapp hints Birmingham City could sign Sebastien Bassong” →

Championship side Birmingham City are lining up an approach for Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley, who could be sold after Newcastle United’s promotion to the top flight.

The former Blackburn Rovers graduate was largely used as backup to the first-team as the Magpies clinched promotion to the Premier League in the first coming. The 25-year-old will undoubtedly want regular playing time for next season, and the Tynesiders are open to offers for their central defender.

League rivals Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa are also monitoring the situation of Hanley, but Harry Redknapp could use his experience to his advantage in order to lure the Scotland international to St Andrew’s. The experienced head coach managed to turn the club’s fortunes in the dying stages of the campaign to keep them in the Championship last term, and he is now eyeing a tilt for promotion with the Midlands club.

Coincidentally, Redknapp was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur who downed the Blues from the Premier League back in the 2010-11 season, and they have since lingered with the relegation zone rather than fighting for the playoff positions. Hanley has been a regular mid-table player in the Championship, and he could be the perfect fit for the club, who no longer have the lanky Krystian Bielik to depend upon. The Arsenal defender played a key role in the defence during his six-month loan stint, but he now appears to be heading to Norwich City on a year-long loan deal. Continue reading “Birmingham City eyeing move for Newcastle United centre-back” →