Political divide could be too great to cross

BLUES are back in the Championship and searching for players who can take them to the next level.

- By STEVE WOLLASTON

The club hope to compete for a place in the Premier League and plans have been drawn up to attack the summer transfer window.

Wide forwards are on Blues’ wish-list and there were few better in League One last season than Louie Barry. The Villa youngster scored 15 goals in 23 games on loan at Stockport before being recalled and shipped off to Hull in January.

Barry's time with the Tigers was blighted by injury and limited to just four matches, but he is widely expected to start next season in the Championship. A host of clubs will no doubt be keen to sign him and Blues have been thrown into the mix.

But could Barry become the latest player to cross the Second City?

Alex Dicken, the Birmingham Mail's Blues reporter, says: "It is a deal that makes sense in terms of location for Sutton Coldfield-based Barry and it's a path that has been reasonably well trodden in recent years.