Luton Town scout Birmingham's Lee Buchanan as left‑back future hangs in balance
Luton Town have dispatched scouts to Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s after the Blues’ fringe players, including United States international Lee Buchanan, featured in a friendly win on penalties against Barcelona on Friday night. The visit signals that the Hatters are weighing a move for the 26‑year‑old left‑back as they prepare for the new League One campaign.
Assistant manager Chris Powell, a former left‑back himself, travelled with the Luton party to observe Buchanan and other fringe teammates during the Barcelona match. Powell’s presence underscores Luton’s intent to assess Buchanan’s readiness after a lengthy injury lay‑off.
Buchanan arrived at Birmingham in the summer of 2023 from Palermo and was introduced to the crowd ahead of the Barcelona fixture. The seven‑capped USMNT player came on as a substitute, replacing Alex Cochrane, who now battles Kristoffer Lund for the starting left‑back role.
His career has been hampered by injuries: an ankle problem in January prompted manager Chris Davies to sign Kai Wagner as extra cover, and a ruptured ACL in December ended his season after a brief return that saw him score in a 2‑0 win over Bristol Rovers. Since that injury, Buchanan has not featured for the first team, although he made occasional appearances for the under‑21 side.
According to Alex Dicken of the Birmingham Mail, Chris Davies is not in a rush to sell Buchanan this summer, but Lund’s arrival makes a departure likely. Davies praised Buchanan’s pre‑season work, saying, "One thing I will say is that Lee has been training very consistently and very well. He’s looked strong." He added that the player’s focus must remain on getting fitter and stronger before deciding his next step.
Luton, under manager Jack Wilshere, aim to improve on last season’s finish and target a top‑six position. With only 20‑year‑old Joe Johnson currently covering the left‑back slot, the Hatters see Buchanan as a smart option to add depth, even if he is not expected to start every game.
Action Images By Samuel Armitage Published Aug 3, 2026, 5:01 PM GMT+1. Sam is an EFL writer for Football League World. A freelance sports journalist, he graduated from the University of Salford with a First Class Broadcast Journalism degree. He has written for the Northern Premier League and various Leeds United blogs, and his media work includes stints with Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Salford City. His contributions appear on Us platforms, where he keeps a Log from the St Road office, reflecting his broad experience across the English game.