- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Premier League trio Newcastle United, Brighton and Brentford could miss out on Jordan James with the Birmingham City starlet now likely to leave the UK amid interest from Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
HITC Football understands that the latest talented young midfielder to emerge from St Andrew’s will be allowed to leave the Second City outfit, so long as Birmingham receive an offer in excess of £10 million.
Three top-flight clubs, Newcastle United, Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion have all sent scouts to watch Jordan James at close quarters. But HITC has been informed that a move abroad is more likely than not at this stage, with Fiorentina joining Italian rivals Atalanta in the race for the Hereford-born 19-year-old.
Birmingham’s new Jude Bellingham?
Of course, James only needs to look at the example of one Jude Bellingham to see the benefits of turning down Premier League moves. Bellingham chose Borussia Dortmund over Manchester United three-and-a-half years ago, and immediately became a first-team regular at the age of just 17 at the German giants.
Capped eight times by Wales already, James’ international boss Rob Page sees no reason why the all-action midfielder cannot follow in the footsteps of a now-Real Madrid superstar he played alongside in Birmingham’s youth teams.
“He reads the game well, he’s athletic, he likes a tackle, he can pass the ball, he can head it … he ticks a lot of boxes,” Page tells The Guardian. “(James) has got everything. He is a great lad and he wants to work hard.
“He has got potential and we’re going to help him achieve that.”
James, unsurprisingly, has admirers Dortmund too. Ditto RB Leipzig, Monaco and Sevilla.
Premier League clubs could miss out
The teenager is one of the most prolific midfielders in the Championship this season too, averaging a goal (six) every other start (12) at a side who hired Tony Mowbray as Wayne Rooney’s replacement a couple of weeks ago.
Newcastle have built their recent success upon a foundation of energetic, enthusiastic homegrown talent, while Brentford and Brighton both have a proud record of signing talented youngsters and helping them live up to their vast potential.
All three clubs appear at risk of missing out at this stage, however, as interest grows in Italy.
There is also Premier League interest in another rising Championship starlet, Sunderland’s Pierre Ekwah.
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