Jordan James price tag set as Birmingham City watch transfer scramble

A Birmingham City academy graduate appears set to return to England this summer with Premier League and Championship teams interested in his services. The Wales international enhanced his reputation with a superb season on loan at Leicester City despite the Foxes' relegation to League One.

James scored 11 goals in the Championship last season and won the EFL Young Player of the Season award, attracting significant transfer interest from multiple clubs. Crystal Palace are planning to bid 10 million for James, while Championship newcomers West Ham are also said to be among the midfielder's admirers.

West Ham will be 85m richer following Tottenham Hotspur's reported signing of coveted midfielder Mateus Fernandes, and the Irons could use some of that money to sign James.

Rennes are looking for between 13m and 15m to part ways with James this summer. Blues sold James to the French club for around 6m, with bonuses potentially seeing the fee eclipse 8m. There is reportedly a small sell-on clause in the deal that would see Blues bank 10 percent of the profit Rennes make on James, though that would likely be in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions of pounds.

James made 104 first team appearances for Blues before his 20th birthday and has already amassed 162 games across his three professional clubs. His successful loan spell at Leicester has significantly boosted his market value and attracted the attention of several English clubs keen to secure his services during the upcoming transfer window. The interest from both Premier League and Championship sides underscores the young midfielder's development as a key talent in English football.