Blues boss Lee Clark has spoke about the likelihood of a busy summer at Blues, who have no fewer than twenty players out of contract or returning to parent clubs at the end of the season. The here and now is to avoid relegation from the Championship, but at the back of the manager’s mind is a summer of upheaval and change.

Clark has had his scouting team out in force over the last few months watching players from all levels of British and European football as he starts penciling down his ideas for next season. He said- “We have got to be aware of all scenarios, that’s why we’re continually having the scouting staff out and also me and my staff, when we are not playing games, are keeping an eye on all types of targets across the board, from higher level Premier League football, all the way down to non-league because I’ve always been a believer that there’s some gems down at that level. We are keeping an eye on what’s going on across Europe as well”.

Callum Reilly is one of the players Blues have an option on

Speaking of the out of contract players, Clark commented- “Obviously, players who are out of contract who do get offers, they have got to accept them. We’re in the process of talking about everybody’s future in terms of reshaping the squad because, as we well know, we have over 20 players either out of contract or who go back to their parent clubs, which is a massive amount”. Ravel Morrison, Paul Caddis, Wes Thomas, Rob Hall and Jack Butland are all registered as loan players and the club have options in their favour for Chris Burke, Morgaro Gomis, Steven Caldwell, Jonathan Spector, Wade Elliott, Callum Reilly and Keith Fahey.

With the unclear takeover situation, it is unknown what Clark’s budget will be, if he has money available at all. Clark said- “We are also studying who could potentially be the Bosmans, the free transfers, and the lower league lads you might have to pay a bit of money for, I would imagine that once the season finished, it’s going to be very busy”.