Harry Redknapp will be looking to work his magic at Birmingham next season after reportedly agreeing to manage the side he led to Championship survival.
New Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp during the press conference
Redknapp is one of the most respected managers in English football and after a sabbatical from the game is now back in the hot seat at St Andrews.
After keeping Brum away from the Championship trapdoor, Redknapp will now focus his attentions on rebuilding the Blues to mount a promotion bid next season.
The former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur boss has a reputation as something of a wheeler dealer in the transfer market and he has his favourites too having signed a number of players several times during his career.
Here are six players Redknapp could look for a reunion with at Birmingham to strengthen the team’s spine as they chase a return to the Premier League.
Stoke City’s Peter Crouch on the substitute bench
1) Peter Crouch
Stoke City bit part player Peter Crouch has been signed by Redknapp no less than three times. The former England striker, 36, was sold to Birmingham’s rivals Aston Villa by Redknapp just days after he arrived at Portsmouth back in March 2002, but the pair were re-united at Southampton two years later.
He scored 16 goals in the 2004/05 season for Saints and, after a three-year spell at Liverpool, was signed by Redknapp at Portsmouth in 2008.
As Redknapp left Pompey for Spurs in October 2008, Crouch was not far behind him nine months later, turning up at White Hart Lane for £10m.
Crouch would be a realistic target for the Blues and when he has been used by Stoke this season has still provided a goal threat with eight in 27 games, many as sub.
Ranger’s Niko Kranjcar in action
2) Niko Krancjar
Redknapp first signed Croatian magician Niko Kranjcar from Hajduk Split when Pompey boss and the midfielder spent three fruitful years at Fratton Park before Redknapp raided the south coast side again for his services with Spurs in 2009.
When QPR boss in 2013, Redknapp signed the 32-year-old midfielder for their successful Championship push.
Now with Scottish side Rangers, Krancjar is one of the big earners Pedro Caixinha will be keen to get off the wage bill as he starts a rebuilding job of his own north of the border and that could suit Birmingham.
Christopher Samba
3) Christopher Samba
Giant defender Christopher Samba joined Redknapp’s QPR from Russian side Anzhi for a reported fee of £12.5 million back in 2013. Following his transfer, Redknapp said: “Chris is just what we need. He’s a monster. Great in the air, quick, a leader, strong, fantastic in both boxes, hard as nails. He’s a proper centre-half. He was willing to take a massive pay cut.”
Just six months later he was back at Anzhi following their relegation from the top flight. He is currently a free agent after having his contract at Greek giants Panathinaikos cancelled earlier this season, and we all know Harry loves a freebie.
Steven Caulker somehow played for Liverpool
4) Steven Caulker
Once tipped for big things at Tottenham, Steven Caulker’s promising career has nosedived since a big money move to rejoin Redknapp at QPR in 2014.
The 25-year-old centre back has played just 48 games in three seasons and has had unsuccessful loan spells at Liverpool and Southampton.
He is entering the last year of his contract and QPR may be willing to listen to knockdown offers for the defender to get him off their books.
Sulley Muntari in his Pompey days
5) Sulley Muntari
Ghana midfield star Sulley Muntari was signed by Redknapp at Portsmouth in 2007 and went down as one of the best midfielders seen at Fratton Park before Italian giants Inter Milan came calling.
Muntari went on to play for Inter’s bitter rivals AC Milan but now at 32 and playing for relegated Pescara, the African star could be ripe for a second spell under Redknapp.
He was subjected to racist abuse during a match recently and may welcome a move back to England with Brum.
England’s Jermain Defoe celebrates
6) Jermain Defoe
The most unlikely reunion would be with Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe who – like Crouch and Krancjar – has already been signed by Redknapp three times so far in his career.
Defoe moved onto West Ham’s books from Charlton in 1999 when Redknapp was in charge at Upton Park, before being sent on loan to the manager’s former side Bournemouth, where he scored 19 goals in 31 games.
Harry gave him his West Ham debut in 2000, and signed him again for Portsmouth in January 2008, and then exactly a year later for Tottenham, where he scored 76 goals in 182 games.
Having hit 15 Premier League goals this season there is every chance the 35-year-old will attract interest from Premier League clubs with the likes of West Ham and Bournemouth sniffing around.
But Defoe’s relationship with Redknapp and the challenge of scoring the goals to help Birmingham chase promotion could prove attractive. A lot could hinge on any indication he is given from England boss Gareth Southgate over his prospects of making the Russia 2018 World Cup squad next summer.
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