Birmingham City goalkeeper up for grabs?
Birmingham’s freshly confirmed relegation will undoubtedly open the avenue for some of their stars to look for an exit strategy, just as will happen at Blackpool and West Ham. One of the players who will attract summer interest is goalkeeping ace Ben Foster. The ex-Manchester United keeper was apparently sought after in the January transfer window by the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, both of whom are facing somewhat of a goalkeeping crisis.
Potential buyers will also be enticed by the recent news that Foster has announced his indefinite unavailability form the England international squad in an effort to prolong his club career. This shows a sign of the Warwickshire man’s commitment to the game, and the lower risk of injury is an added bonus.
Foster arrived at Birmingham F.C just over a year ago, at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season and has impressed hugely since his move. Appearing in the vast majority of Birmingham’s games this season, the team were unfortunate to see the drop, only sealing their fate on the last day of the season. Foster was one of the stars of the squad, but Roger Johnson, Scott Dann and Craig Gardner are other players that could be leaving in the summer.
Premier League clubs will definitely be on high alert, as the unanimous opinion will be that Foster is above Championship standard, much to the dismay of Alex Mcleish who will be determined to hang on to his services. An England International goalkeeper and only 29, the Birmingham outfit can expect to hear inquisitions from a number of teams. The stopper is said to be estimated at around the £9m mark.
