Birmingham City are in talks with a recently retired player over a potential non-playing contract ahead of their return to the second tier.
The Blues are preparing for life in the Championship after making light work of League One this season. They finished on 111 points this season, smashing the record both in League One and world football for a single-season tally.
In recent weeks, they’ve been linked with some impressive signings. Che Adams has been linked with a move back to Birmingham City. While they’ve also been rumoured to be weighing up a move for Mark Travers.
They are also rumoured to be considering some additions to their backroom staff, with recently retired striker Lukas Jutkiewicz discussing his options with the club.
Lukas Jutkiewicz to join Birmingham City backroom staff?
Jutkiewicz retired at the end of the League One season, bringing a close to his almost 20-year career. He has spent the last nine years with Birmingham City, after initially joining on loan from Burnley.
Now, with the striker retired, Football Insider have shared that the forward is in discussions with the club over a new role. The 36-year-old’s new role is likely to be a coaching or recruitment role, with the fine details yet to be ironed out.
It’s a move that will likely delight Blues fans. The forward has been a part of the club for some time, and his loyalty deserves to be rewarded now that his career has come to an end.
His presence around the club, in whatever capacity it ends up being, will likely be useful for the players and staff.
Jutkiewicz’s career coming to an end
Jutkiewicz started his career at Swindon Town. He broke into their first team in 2006 and went on to play 42 times, scoring five goals. His performances earned him a move to Everton, but he only played once for the Premier League side.
In the nine years between joining Everton and first signing for Birmingham City on loan in 2016, Jutkiewicz played for teams across England, as well as Motherwell in Scotland.
Jutkiewicz joined the Blues on loan in August 2016 and made the move permanent the following January. He went on to play 357 games for the club, scoring 68 goals.
He found gametime hard to come by this season, given the wealth of talent the club have upfront. Jutkiewicz played 16 League One games, scoring once, and received an average Sofascore rating of 6.71.