Birmingham City were interested in landing Rangers-bound Mikey Moore from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur - but cooled their interest as their recent influx of players headed into St Andrew’s.
The ambitious Second City club - and rivals West Bromwich Albion - were both under consideration as the potential next steps in the Spurs starlet’s development path.
But, as the summer progressed, Birmingham's recruitment chiefs realised that they could not guarantee the prodigious 17-year-old game time.
Blues Initially Showed Interest in Moore Deal
Davies considered raiding former employers before making U-turn
Boss Chris Davies did not want to sully his reputation with his former club and Birmingham stepped back from chasing Moore. The tactician, who worked as No.2 to Ange Postecoglou before trying his luck in the hot seat at St Andrew’s, wants to keep the door open to future deals with the north London club.
He didn’t want to push hard for the teenager - who has been described as 'outstanding' by scout Jacek Kulig - and then not be able to deliver with minutes on the pitch.
Twelve months ago, Davies was under enormous pressure to lift the American-owned club back into the Championship at the first time of asking. Birmingham used up one of their loans from Premier League clubs as they took Luke Harris from Fulham.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Mikey Moore was handed 310 minutes of action during Tottenham Hotspur's triumphant 2024/25 Europa League campaign
The midfielder did make 10 starts as the Blues carried all before them during their record-breaking League One campaign. But the Cottagers would have been hoping the 20-year-old would have had more exposure - potentially of the kind that new loan club Oxford United will provide.
Birmingham did not want to make promises - either to the player or the club - that they could not keep.