Birmingham City and Chris Davies are now looking at signing an ex-Barcelona gem before the transfer deadline.

Birmingham City suffer shock EFL Cup defeat to Port Vale

The Blues were knocked out of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening following a surprise 1-0 defeat to League One side Port Vale.

Jaheim Headley netted the only goal of the game, with Davies ringing the changes at St Andrew’s. Phil Neumann was the only player to keep his place in the side from the Championship victory over Oxford United, and talking after the game, the Blues boss said his side’s “normal rhythm and intensity” wasn’t there.

“I think we suffered tonight because ultimately we couldn’t create enough chances with all the possession and dominance we had. They scored a goal which was really poor from our point of view, but we just couldn’t find our normal rhythm and intensity with the ball to create enough pressure and chances which we have done so many times here. It’s cost us the game.

“That’s quite clearly one of the main catalysts for being less fluid. We had a lot of changes there and a lot of new players come in, even the ones that have been here haven’t had a lot of football, some of them.

“It’s not an excuse and I certainly don’t expect the players to be using it as an excuse but we definitely lacked our normal rhythm and fluidity. With three games in a week, as we’ve had this week, it was important that we tried to freshen up and have enough energy for what’s ahead.”

Attention quickly turns back to the league, with a trip to Leicester City on Friday evening, and behind the scenes, the club are also looking for one more signing before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Birmingham City looking to sign ex-Barcelona gem Mikayil Faye

According to Give Me Sport, the 11th and final Birmingham signing of the summer could be Rennes defender Mikayil Faye.

Capable of playing as a centre-back or as a left-back, Faye is someone who ‘fulfils the main criteria for the Blues’, with the club looking for someone who can cover for injured left-back Alex Cochrane.

Faye, formerly of Barcelona, had a €400m (£345m) release clause in his Nou Camp contract but signed for the Ligue 1 side on a permanent basis in 2024.

Since then, the Senegal international has made 12 senior appearances for Rennes, mainly as a centre-back.

Still just 21 years of age, Faye could be targeted over the coming days, however, GMS also state that Birmingham have alternative targets in mind.