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Marcelo Bielsa may try his hand at luring David Stockdale away from Birmingham City after missing out in the summer, per reports in the Birmingham Mail.
What’s the word?
The Birmingham Mail are suggesting Leeds United will again look to bring Stockdale to Elland Road in the mid-season window after their backup goalkeeper, Jamal Blackman, was sidelined with a broken leg.
Leeds confirmed the fractured tibia to the on-loan Chelsea stopper, who Bielsa had brought to the club to be Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s number two, and now the Birmingham City man could again be a target after a move fell through in the summer.
Stockdale is said to be one of Garry Monk’s highest earners at St Andrew’s and has so far been left to train with the youth ranks at Wast Hills either side of his brief loan to Southend United in September.
It is unclear at present whether any move by the Whites would be in the form of a loan or permanent deal.
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Perfect chance to take some money off the books
Rather than continuing to pay out Stockdale’s entire contract until his deal expires in June 2020, Monk would be wise in allowing the Leeds-born goalie to move away even if not every pound is taken off the books.
The longer the journeyman trains with the youth ranks the lower his value will go having already been halved to £900k, per TransferMarkt, since returning from his emergency loan to Southend.
Goalkeepers Lee Camp and rookie number two Connal Trueman have proven to be adequate options between the sticks for Monk so far this season, so there is very little chance Stockdale will be called upon without a serious stroke of bad luck befalling the Blues.
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