Clubs busy getting down to business

THE Championship clubs have been busy in the transfer market as they ramp up the search for their summer reinforcements.

- By ROSS GREGORY

Middlesbrough have yet to make a move. The only new faces heading to Portugal for the preseason camp were Rob Edwards and his coaching staff, with no summer signings to bolster the ranks.

The Teessiders' search for a new head coach has meant transfers have been on the backburner somewhat, although Kieran Scott and Boro's recruitment team have been hard at work behind the scenes.

Other second-tier clubs have been active. Let's take a look at transactions completed in the past few days:

Birmingham City

Birmingham City's hefty spending on recruitment has continued unabated with the signing of ex-Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi from French top-tier side Rennes for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around the £8million mark.

The Blues have secured the Japan international on a three-year contract following their promotion to the Championship as League One champions.

During his stint at Celtic, Furuhashi netted 85 goals in 165 appearances and was the Scottish Premiership's top scorer in the 2022-23 season with 27 goals.

He moved to Rennes in January for £10m but is back in Britain just six months later with Chris Davies' newly-promoted team, despite strong rumours of a return to Celtic.

It continues a swift start to the transfer window for the Blues, following the earlier arrivals of Nigeria fullback Bright Osayi-Samuel and Jamaica winger Demarai Gray on permanent deals and the loan signings of Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle and England Euro Under-21 winning goalkeeper James Beadle.

Birmingham, who won the League One title last season with an English Football League record 111 points, are one of the favourites for promotion again.

Charlton Athletic