Birmingham City need to monitor Notts County star in light of the Hogan and Stansfield conditions: View

To climb up the Championship table, Blues have mostly relied on goals from Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, who is on loan, and his impact on the team will likely be vital for the rest of the season.

But since Scott Hogan and Lukas Jutkiewicz’s contracts expire in June, and the 21-year-old’s loan arrangement is only good until the end of the season, thoughts may soon turn to possible summer replacements.

Macaulay Langstaff’s stats so far

Macaulay Langstaff has made an impressive start to his debut season in the Football League, maintaining his goal-scoring form from his remarkable campaign in the National League with Notts County last year.

Hailing from Stockton, the striker joined Notts County from Gateshead in the summer of 2022 for a reported fee of £50,000. Despite doubts about his ability to adjust to a higher level of competition, Langstaff proved his critics wrong by excelling under manager Luke Williams. He played a pivotal role in Notts County’s intense battle with Wrexham for automatic promotion from the National League, netting an impressive 41 goals in 47 appearances, all without the aid of penalties. His stellar performances helped secure Notts County’s promotion with a dramatic shootout victory over Chesterfield at Wembley.

During his remarkable season, Langstaff received consecutive Player of the Month awards in the National League and set both a club and division record for the most league goals in a single season.

Despite concerns about his transition to the Football League, Langstaff continued to impress, drawing interest from Championship clubs. His performances have earned him the nickname “the non-league Haaland,” highlighting his prolific scoring ability and potential to succeed at higher levels of competition.

Stansfield’s impressive performance in the first half of the season caught the attention not only of Birmingham City fans but also of clubs in the same division aiming for a return to the Premier League.

Despite being on loan until the season’s end, reports suggested that Ipswich Town and Sunderland were interested in acquiring the striker to bolster their attacking options. Additionally, there was rumored interest from Derby County and Wrexham in Notts County’s Langstaff, as Blues faced the prospect of losing Stansfield to higher-placed teams.

However, BirminghamLive’s Alex Dicken clarified that the rumored move for Langstaff was not pursued in January and was merely speculation. Nevertheless, Langstaff’s goal-scoring abilities and remarkable rise from non-league football make him an enticing prospect for the future.

As Langstaff has extended his contract with Notts County until the 2026/27 season, HITC reports that the club has set a £1.5 million valuation on him. This could present Birmingham City with a viable and astute option to explore in the summer transfer window, particularly with Hogan and Jutkiewicz’s contracts set to expire in June.