Birmingham City linked with transfer

James Beadle is a young goalkeeper, and Birmingham City is reportedly interested in him before the January transfer window opens. Although Beadle, 19, is a member of Brighton & Hove Albion’s roster, he has been on loan at League One Oxford United for the first half of the current campaign.

At the Kassam Stadium, the England young goalkeeper has also made an impression. In his 24 senior appearances this season, Beadle has maintained nine clean sheets, and his efforts have helped the U’s finish third in League One before to the holiday schedule.

Before Brighton chose to loan him away in the summer, the teenager signed a new long-term contract with them last winter that goes until the summer of 2026. Having played for Crewe Alexandra in the second part of the previous season’s League Two campaign, this is his second time playing in the EFL.

Before the January window reopens, Beadle has reportedly attracted attention from Sheffield Wednesday and the Blues, according the Sheffield Star. In the second half of the season, Brighton may have an opportunity from either team for Beadle to perform at a better level; but, Blues presently have John Ruddy as their unchallenged number one.

The seasoned Ruddy participated in all 10 league games under Wayne Rooney this season, having played 43 games under John Eustace the previous season. Recent sources, however, state that the Blues are open to offers to retain deputy Neil Etheridge in January. Etheridge has only made four league appearances since the end of the 2021–2022 season, despite having participated in all six cup games since the start of the previous campaign.

Des Buckingham, the manager of Oxford, talked about the possibility that loan recalls could endanger the team’s successful season. “They are here and playing incredibly well in a team that is trying to advance and have a successful season,” the speaker stated.

“I’d like to think that if there was a chance for them to be recalled, they would think twice because they see how well they are doing. Hopefully, the way they are treated here and the club that loans them to us can see how they’re developing and how they’re playing.

Naturally, we don’t have much control over that if they so choose, but the main goal is to ensure that succession planning and backup plans are in place when it comes to hiring and the job done by the recruitment team. In the unlikely event that it occurs, I hope we’re in the best possible position to ensure that we immediately cover ourselves.

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