Lee Hendrie believes striker Lyndon Dykes is almost certain to leave Birmingham City this summer if Werder Bremen forward Marvin Ducksch joins the club.
Birmingham are preparing for life back in the Championship after winning the League One title last season, and after owner Tom Wagner made it clear that the club are targeting back-to-back promotions in the upcoming campaign.
The ambitious Midlands outfit have brought in a host of new players so far this summer, including Rennes forward Kyogo Furuhashi in a deal worth up to £10 million.
Player
From
Loan/Permanent
James Beadle
Brighton & Hove Albion
Loan
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Fenerbahçe
Permanent
Eiran Cashin
Brighton & Hove Albion
Loan
Tommy Doyle
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Loan
Kanya Fujimoto
Gil Vicente
Permanent
Demarai Gray
Al-Ettifaq
Permanent
Kyogo Furuhashi
Rennes
Permanent
However, the Blues are far from done in the transfer market, and as FLW exclusively revealed this week, they are closing in on the signing of Werder Bremen forward Ducksch, who scored nine goals and provided 11 assists in 36 appearances for the Bundesliga side last season.
As Birmingham continue to strengthen their squad, some of those who helped them to promotion may be set to depart St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, and striker Alfie May made a £1.2 million move to League One side Huddersfield Town on Tuesday, in another deal that was first exclusively reported by FLW.
Dykes joined the Blues from Queens Park Rangers last summer for a fee of £1 million, but he scored just five goals in 32 games last season, with only 12 of those appearances coming from the start, so he could follow May out of the exit door before the end of the transfer window.
Lee Hendrie predicts Lyndon Dykes, Birmingham City exit amid Marvin Ducksch talk
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie admitted that he does not expect Dykes to feature regularly for Birmingham in the Championship next season, and he predicted that the 29-year-old will move on this summer, particularly if the club complete the signing of Ducksch.
“I think this would be a big coup for them with his experience added on to the goals he’s scored since he’s been at Werder Bremen,” Hendrie said.
“He’s got an eye for goal, and when he’s doing it at that level, you can’t not turn your head and think that this would be a massive coup for Birmingham.
“As for Lyndon Dykes, I really don’t think he’s going to feature much. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s one that is suddenly on the list to leave or go out on loan somewhere.
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“With what they’ve got now, and if this signing does happen, Birmingham will look very, very strong in those forward areas because he is a goalscorer.
“The possibility of Dykes leaving would be near on 100% if that was to happen.”
Lyndon Dykes’ Birmingham City departure would be the right move for all parties
Given that Dykes was a key player for QPR in the Championship, his signing looked to be a coup for Birmingham last summer, but it has not worked out for him at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
If Dykes was not selected often by manager Chris Davies in League One last season, it is highly unlikely he will be part of his plans in the second tier, and the expected arrival of Ducksch will push him further down the pecking order.
With that in mind, Dykes will be reluctant to spend another season sitting on the bench with the Blues, and he may push for a move this summer, particularly as his place in the Scotland squad could come under threat if he is not playing regular football.