Birmingham City chase Ipswich winger as Gray faces competition

Birmingham City have identified a clear gap in their attacking options as they battle a sluggish start to the 2026/27 Championship, prompting a three‑way chase that pits Derby County against the Blues for Ipswich Town’s versatile winger Anis Mehmeti, while veteran forward Demarai Gray sees his minutes under threat.

The Blues finished ten‑place last season, a result that fell short of play‑off expectations and left the squad thin in wide areas. Only six signings have arrived, with Luis Vazquez the sole addition to the forward line, and his minutes remain limited. Manager Chris Davies therefore eyes a player who can add both width and goal threat. The pressure has mounted at St. Andrew's as the campaign progresses.

Mehmeti emerges as the target

Anis Mehmeti, 25, joined Ipswich Town from Bristol City in January for a reported £3m cut‑price fee. In his first 18 appearances under Kieran McKenna he started only a handful of games but scored twice, against Wrexham and Swansea City. His ability to operate on either flank and through the centre makes him a rare commodity in the Championship.

Ipswich have set a £9m price tag for the Albanian international, a figure that matches the upper range of Birmingham’s recent spending. Derby County and Wrexham have also entered the race, turning the deal into a three‑way tug‑of‑war. Should the Blues meet the demand, Mehmeti would provide the experience the club lacks after losing the race for Joe Gelhardt to Hull City.

Gray’s role under scrutiny

Demarai Gray returned to Birmingham on a free transfer from the Saudi Pro League last summer, hoping to revive his Championship career after a decade away. He enjoyed a purple patch in November and early December, contributing ten goal involvements, but a pre‑season knock and subsequent injury have seen him lose his place to Ibrahim Osman and Jay Stansfield. With Mehmeti and French winger Herba Guirassy also linked, Gray faces the prospect of reduced minutes.

Reports in June suggested several clubs explored Gray’s exit clause, though no fee was disclosed. The looming competition from Derby County for the same winger adds further uncertainty to Birmingham’s final‑window plans. The board will try, and Us supporters hope, to resolve the issue before the window closes.

Action Images By  Benedict Ferraby AM GMT+1 Benedict is an EFL-accredited self-publishing writer and sub-editor for FLW, covering all three divisions whilst strongly focusing on developments at Hull City and Birmingham City.

Benedict graduated with a 2:1 (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, before achieving a Merit in MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025.

He previously covered Rugby League and non-league football matches for various sites, and worked as an intern with Wolves' Academy between 2023 and 2025.