Birmingham City of the English Championship (second division) is showing renewed interest in recruiting Hwang Hee-chan (29·Wolverhampton).
The UK local daily, Birmingham Mail, reported on the 14th (Korea time) that "Hwang Hee-chan's name has been consistently consolidated with Birmingham in this summer transfer market," adding, "It could be an attractive acquisition, but there are several realistic hurdles."
Hwang Hee-chan played a key role in Wolverhampton's attack, scoring 11 goals and providing 4 assists in 29 matches during the 2023-2024 Premier League season. However, his position has somewhat wavered under the recently appointed manager, Victor Pereira, and steady playing time has become difficult due to intensified competition within the team.
With the 2026 North and Central America World Cup approaching, Hwang Hee-chan has made accumulating as much practical experience as possible his top priority to avoid falling behind in the competition for the national team starting position. If consistent appearances in the Premier League become challenging, it is analyzed that he may consider a transfer to increase his chances of playing in the lower Championship.
Birmingham has actively recruited players from East Asia in recent years, including Baek Seung-ho, Lee Myung-jae, and players from Japan. The newly appointed manager, Chris Davis, is also positive about utilizing Asian players and has reportedly expressed direct interest in acquiring Hwang Hee-chan.
Hwang Hee-chan is a multi-position player, capable of playing as a central forward as well as on the wings and in the second line. Birmingham is currently looking for diversity and decisiveness among their attacking resources, and Hwang Hee-chan is considered an 'ideal card' to fit the puzzle.
The key issue is finance. Hwang Hee-chan signed a five-year re-contract with Wolverhampton at the end of last year. The continuous interest from Premier League clubs and top European teams, as evidenced by the reported transfer fee of £21 million (about 38.9 billion won) proposed by Marseille in the past, supports his value. Therefore, his salary is at a level difficult for clubs in the English second division to match.
Birmingham Mail noted that "the wage level at Birmingham makes it difficult to even approach Hwang Hee-chan," addressing the realistic obstacles. The club has significantly reduced its investment capacity by bringing in 7 new players this summer alone, and is now in a situation where they need to focus on restructuring the squad.
Internally, positive signals are also detected. If there is a rapid change in the club's circumstances, or if Hwang Hee-chan prioritizes securing playing time for his World Cup participation and presents a reasonable negotiation plan, there remains a possibility of a dramatic turnaround.
Hwang Hee-chan's potential transfer to Birmingham aligns well with the characteristics of the resources the team needs and the player's career goals. However, as the season opener approaches, attention is focused on whether he can overcome the financial barrier.
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