Birmingham City are demonstrating remarkable ambition during the January transfer window, with their sights firmly set on securing a significant deal for Spanish winger Carlos Vicente from Deportivo Alaves. The Championship club's aggressive recruitment strategy is being fully backed by Knighthead ownership, as they aim to transform their mid-table position into genuine play-off contention.
Financial Backing and Transfer Activity
Under the leadership of Knighthead chief Tom Wagner, director of football Craig Gardner and manager Chris Davies have been given substantial financial resources to strengthen the squad. This commitment was humorously acknowledged by Wagner himself during a recent address to supporters at the Knighthead Fan Park, where he quipped that 'Craig Gardner is spending money like it grows on trees.'
The club has already completed several notable signings this month, including Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Ibrahim Osman, and August Priske. However, Davies remains determined to add at least two more players to his roster, with particular emphasis on bolstering the attacking options.
The Carlos Vicente Pursuit
Carlos Vicente has emerged as Birmingham City's primary target for the winger position, despite facing competition from Dutch giants Ajax. The 26-year-old Spanish attacker would command a transfer fee exceeding £6million, potentially pushing Birmingham's total January spending towards the £15million mark.
Wagner hinted at the club's next signing being a Spanish speaker during his weekend address, further fueling speculation about Vicente's potential arrival. Birmingham City supporters will be watching closely to see whether Vicente features in Alaves' La Liga match against Real Betis tonight, as his involvement or absence could provide crucial clues about the transfer's progress.
Vicente's Playing Style and Attributes
The Spanish winger has demonstrated impressive form this season, registering nine goals and three assists across all competitions for Alaves. His contributions include four La Liga goals – with notable strikes against both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid – plus five goals in the Copa del Rey.
Vicente represents exactly the type of player Chris Davies wants to add to his squad: fast, direct, and physically imposing. Unlike many modern wingers who rely on elaborate tricks and stepovers, Vicente prefers the conventional approach of using his pace to beat defenders and drive toward the byline.
Primarily operating as an inverted right-winger this season, the left-footed Vicente has previously played on his natural side and would provide genuine competition for Patrick Roberts. His addition would offer Davies a different tactical option and add another layer of unpredictability to Birmingham's attacking play.
Managerial Perspective and Season Performance
Alaves manager Eduardo Coudet has previously highlighted Vicente's unique qualities within his squad, stating: 'We're a team that needs to work on movement and ball circulation. We lack that player who can dribble past opponents and create a goal from nothing. The closest to that role is Carlos Vicente, but he's more comfortable moving wide than playing centrally.'
Despite not being a guaranteed starter this season, Vicente has maintained impressive productivity. Last campaign, he recorded 10 goal contributions across 35 La Liga starts, demonstrating both consistency and availability – attributes that would be highly valuable to Birmingham City's promotion push.
The potential acquisition of Carlos Vicente represents a statement of intent from Birmingham City's ownership and management team. Their willingness to invest significantly in the January window underscores their determination to accelerate the club's progress and challenge for Championship promotion this season.
