Blues boss Davies has made signing a new defender this month a top priority after the departure of Dion Sanderson to Blackburn Rovers. Davies wants an extra body to restore his complement of centre-backs to four.

Thursday afternoon, Davies suggested a new centre-back is on the verge of joining Blues. He said: “From our point of view we’ve obviously lost Dion Sanderson in the sense he’s gone on loan so we need someone to come in that position. That’s something we’re working on and hopefully in the next day or so we can get somebody in to help the squad.”

Experienced Scotland international Grant Hanley is believed to be the player Davies is referring to. Norwich City defender Hanley, 33, has only played four times for Norwich this season and is keen to find more regular football elsewhere.

Blues are also assessing left-back options after losing Lee Buchanan to a serious knee injury. Alex Cochrane is currently Davies’ only option in that position, although right-backs Ethan Laird and Alfons Sampsted can deputise there if needed.

Davies added: “Again, Lee is a long-term injury at left-back so we’re looking at options there. Then we’ll see how the last week and a half of the window goes. Things are starting to move in the market a lot more now, if anything pops up of interest then we might look at it.

As“We’ve got a squad we’re really happy with and the players have done well this season. The main thing for us is making sure we have good player availability, avoid injuries, and I’m happy with the squad.”

Davies appears to be happy with his wide options. Whilst the department has been injury-hit throughout this season, Davies believes Blues have enough cover to cope.

“With Emil being out for a couple of medium-term injuries, it has left us a bit short and Scott Wright at times, but I think we do have good options there,” he said. “At number 10 we have a couple of options there now Willumsson is out for a few weeks. At the top end of the pitch we are pretty well covered, but we’ll see what happens in the last week or so of the window.”

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