Birmingham City have been linked with a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan
Hwang Hee-chan has been linked with Birmingham City
The name Hwang Hee-chan has been thrown around Birmingham City circles for most of the summer transfer window.
South Korea international Hwang, 29, found life tough at Wolverhampton Wanderers last season and there is a belief that he will be allowed to leave this summer.
Having made 15 goal contributions in 29 Premier League games across 2023/24, Hwang’s form dipped last season as he managed just two goals in 21.
New Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has favoured other forward options and Hwang, like Blues newbie Tommy Doyle, could move on in search of more regular football.
Hwang has been capped 73 times by his country and wants to ensure selection for next year’s World Cup with a strong season – even if he has to leave the Premier League.
This is where Blues come in, in theory. With South Korean teammate Paik Seung-ho a firm favourite of manager Chris Davies, Blues have an ‘in’ with Hwang and there is room in their forward line for a high-percentage finisher who can play number nine, as a 10 or off the side.
Blues have favoured signings from East Asia over the past two years with two South Koreans – Paik and former left-back Lee Myung-jae – and five Japanese players joining the club in recent transfer windows.
However, while there is admiration for Hwang in Blues’ corridors of power, sources at both ends have suggested to BirminghamLive that a deal would not be financially viable.
Hwang only signed an improved five-year contract with Wolves in December 2023 and his wages are at Premier League level.
Blues signed Doyle on loan from Wolves within their existing wage structure, Hwang wouldn’t fit into that on his current terms – not to mention the fee for a player Marseille offered £21million for last summer.
Having signed seven players already this summer, Blues are more concerned about getting bodies out the door at the moment. Only Ayumu Yokoyama and Manny Longelo have left the club having been deemed surplus to requirements by Davies.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Dion Sanderson and Tyler Roberts are looking for moves elsewhere, while the writing appears to be on the wall for Alfons Sampsted and Emil Hansson after the signings of Bright Osayi-Samuel and Demarai Gray.
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