Birmingham City competes with Hull City to sign 15-goal scorer, a Stansfield upgrade.

Blues Eye More Firepower After Mid-Table Championship Finish

Birmingham City are working to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new Championship campaign, with Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt emerging as one of their primary transfer targets. Chris Davies’ side finished 10th in their first season back in the second tier, a respectable achievement following promotion from League One, but the club believes there is still room for significant improvement if they are to challenge for a place in the Premier League.

Goals proved to be one of Birmingham’s biggest weaknesses last season. Despite showing promise in many matches, they found the back of the net just 57 times in 46 Championship fixtures. Among the teams that finished in the top half of the table, only Preston North End managed fewer league goals, underlining the need for greater attacking efficiency.

Jay Stansfield Faces Increased Competition

The arrival of another forward could place Jay Stansfield under real pressure for his starting position. Birmingham made headlines in the summer of 2024 when they agreed a deal worth up to £20 million to sign the former Fulham striker despite having just dropped into League One.

That investment initially looked justified. Stansfield enjoyed a superb debut campaign, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and playing a crucial role in helping Birmingham secure an immediate return to the Championship. However, stepping back up to the second tier proved considerably more challenging for the young striker.

Although he featured in 44 of Birmingham’s 46 league matches during the 2025/26 season, his overall contribution in front of goal fell below expectations. He finished with 10 league goals, including only eight from open play, despite registering an expected goals figure of 11.08.

Championship Statistics Highlight Areas for Improvement

A closer examination of Stansfield’s numbers illustrates why Birmingham are eager to strengthen their attack. Rather than exceeding expectations, he underperformed his expected goals tally, suggesting he missed more opportunities than would normally be anticipated from the quality of chances he received.

His efficiency also left room for improvement. Averaging one goal every 331 minutes is not the level typically associated with a striker capable of leading a promotion challenge.

Physical battles also presented difficulties throughout the campaign. Stansfield won only around 30 percent of his ground duels while succeeding in just 10 percent of his aerial contests. Those figures highlight the challenges he experienced against the more physical defenders commonly found in the Championship.

Birmingham Looking for a Clinical Alternative

While Stansfield remains a talented player with considerable potential, Birmingham’s ambitions have increased. Chris Davies wants his team competing for automatic promotion or at least the play-off positions this season, meaning the club is searching for players capable of converting chances more consistently.

Improving the goalscoring output has become a major priority during the transfer window, and Birmingham appear prepared to add another attacking option capable of pushing Stansfield for regular minutes rather than relying on him as the undisputed first choice.

Joe Gelhardt Emerges as Major Transfer Target

According to BBC Radio Humberside journalist Mike White, Birmingham are actively pursuing a deal for Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt. Discussions are reportedly taking place involving Birmingham, Leeds and the player himself as the Blues attempt to secure his signature before the transfer window closes.

Interest in Gelhardt has intensified after his successful loan spell with Hull City during the 2025/26 season. Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic has publicly expressed his desire to bring the forward back to the club following his outstanding performances during their promotion-winning campaign.

However, Birmingham are determined to compete for his signature despite Hull’s interest, creating what could become one of the more intriguing transfer battles involving Championship clubs this summer.

Gelhardt’s Loan Spell Demonstrated His Quality

Gelhardt enjoyed an impressive campaign with Hull, becoming one of the team’s most influential attacking players as they secured promotion to the Premier League.

Across 42 Championship appearances, the Leeds attacker scored 15 goals while consistently producing decisive moments in front of goal. His expected goals total stood at 11.42, meaning he significantly outperformed the quality of chances created for him by scoring over three goals more than expected.

That clinical finishing ability was one of the defining features of his campaign and is precisely the quality Birmingham are hoping to add to their squad.

Statistical Comparison Favors Gelhardt

Comparing the two forwards highlights why Birmingham believe Gelhardt would represent an upgrade.

While Stansfield finished with 10 league goals from an xG of 11.08, Gelhardt produced 15 goals from an xG of 11.42. His positive xG differential demonstrates exceptional finishing, whereas Stansfield recorded a negative differential after failing to convert several good opportunities.

Gelhardt also proved considerably more efficient, averaging a goal every 196 minutes compared to Stansfield’s 331-minute average.

From open play, Gelhardt scored 14 non-penalty goals, six more than Birmingham’s current striker despite making two fewer Championship appearances.

Similar Playing Style but Better End Product

Interestingly, both players possess fairly similar profiles. Neither is regarded as a traditional target man capable of dominating physically against central defenders. Instead, both are more comfortable operating as second strikers, linking play between midfield and attack while making intelligent runs into dangerous areas.

Creatively, there is little separating them. Stansfield registered four assists during the season, while Gelhardt contributed six, averaging similar assist numbers per game.

The biggest difference lies in finishing efficiency. Gelhardt consistently converted opportunities into goals at a much higher rate, making him a more productive option despite operating in a comparable role.

Birmingham Hope Gelhardt Can Elevate Their Promotion Chances

Should Birmingham successfully complete a deal for Gelhardt, Chris Davies would significantly strengthen his attacking options ahead of a season in which expectations have grown.

Competition for places could also help bring the best out of Stansfield, while giving Birmingham greater depth and flexibility across the forward line.

Convincing Gelhardt to choose St Andrew’s over a return to Hull City will not be straightforward, but if Birmingham succeed, they could secure one of the Championship’s most effective attacking players and provide themselves with the clinical edge needed to mount a genuine promotion challenge.