Birmingham City might lose out on additional millions in the Jordan James story following a development on Tuesday: See

The Blues made a controversial decision in October to replace John Eustace with Wayne Rooney, despite being sixth in the table at the time. However, this move did not yield positive results.

Rooney’s tenure came to an end in January after securing just two wins in 15 games. His successor, Tony Mowbray, enjoyed a strong start before temporarily stepping down due to health reasons last month.

Mark Venus, Mowbray’s assistant, initially took over as caretaker manager. However, following a poor run of form under his leadership, the club has decided to bring back former manager Gary Rowett as interim head coach.

Rowett will lead the team for the first time in the crucial match against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Good Friday. He faces a significant challenge in keeping the club in the division, especially considering Birmingham’s position just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Jordan James, the Blues’ midfielder, has been a bright spot this season despite all the upheaval.

James joined the main squad in 2021 after coming through the Birmingham academy, but he has since flourished this season, making 41 appearances across all competitions and tallying eight goals.

Despite receiving transfer interest from other teams, the 19-year-old stayed with the team in January, but the Blues will probably have to fight again to keep him in the summer.

Jordan James transfer latest

In January, Italian club Atalanta expressed interest in James, but negotiations with Birmingham failed to reach an agreement. Atalanta was not the only club pursuing the midfielder.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Crystal Palace, a Premier League team, made an offer for James, proposing a loan deal until the summer with a return to St Andrew’s. However, their offer did not meet Birmingham’s valuation.

Since then, there has been a change in management at Selhurst Park, with Oliver Glasner taking over from Roy Hodgson. Despite this, James remains a target for Crystal Palace, and the two clubs have maintained communication.

Atalanta continues to monitor James ahead of the summer transfer window, while Serie A side Bologna and Championship promotion contenders Leicester City are also reportedly interested. However, Leicester City’s recent Financial Fair Play charge raises doubts about their ability to meet Birmingham’s reported asking price of £10 million.

Birmingham may even demand more than £10 million if James maintains his form until the end of the season. However, Wales’ failure to qualify for Euro 2024 could potentially impact the club’s finances negatively.

Birmingham City should be concerned about Wales’ disappointment in Euro 2024.

Despite only debuting for Wales in March 2023, James has quickly become a vital player for Rob Page’s team in recent months.

He featured in both games for Wales during the international break, contributing to a 4-1 victory over Finland but experiencing disappointment as Wales lost on penalties to Poland, ending their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 after a goalless draw in Cardiff.

Historically, strong performances in international tournaments have significantly increased a player’s value, as seen with Enzo Fernandez’s move to Chelsea from Benfica for £106.8 million following his standout role in Argentina’s World Cup success.

Birmingham might have anticipated a similar impact on James’ valuation had he excelled in the Euros. However, after Wales’ elimination, he won’t have the opportunity to showcase his talent against top competition in Germany this summer.

Nevertheless, James’ burgeoning international career won’t diminish his market value. Despite the disappointment against Poland, Page expressed confidence in James’ potential, foreseeing further development and an increase in his international appearances.

Page remarked, “JJ will have learned a lot from that experience, that will hold him in good stead and make him bigger and better in the future… He’ll be another Ethan Ampadu with cap accumulation – 50-odd by the time he’s 23, no doubt.”

Additional international playing time will undoubtedly boost James’ worth. Although he won’t participate in the Euros, there’s still a chance Birmingham could command a significant fee for him this summer. Manager Mowbray suggested in January that Adam Wharton’s transfer from Blackburn Rovers to Crystal Palace for £18.5 million, potentially rising to £22 million, could serve as a benchmark for the fee the club might receive.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the Euros, James will be focused on helping Birmingham remain in the Championship. Speculation regarding his long-term future is likely to continue in the months ahead.