Despite reports that the Potters are interested in the 27-year-old, former England international Carlton Palmer says League One leaders Birmingham City will not permit club captain Krystian Bielik to depart for Championship team Stoke City before the winter transfer window closes.

Notwithstanding a number of chronic injury problems, Bielik has been a Championship regular for years with Derby County and his current team, Birmingham. Surprisingly, he has stuck with the Blues in League One this season as they appear destined to make a quick return to the second division.

Meanwhile, the Potters have had a slow transfer month, but as the deadline draws nearer, manager Mark Robins will be working nonstop to bolster his team.

Bielik has been linked to a move to the bet365 Stadium this week, which is not surprising given the injury and form concerns in his squad and Stoke’s current relegation battle in 20th place. The team will be looking for versatile players who can play in both midfield and central defense.

Carlton Palmer offers ‘vital’ Krystian Bielik, Birmingham City verdict amid Stoke City links

11 times Despite their relegation last season, Polish international Bielik joined the Blues permanently from Derby County in 2022. He has managed to avoid serious injuries over the last two seasons, and new head coach Chris Davies duly appointed him club captain before this season.

With 18 league starts and 26 appearances across all competitions, he has contributed significantly to Birmingham’s champions-elect campaign thus far. However, a recent short-term injury has taken him out of the team, and he has only played off the bench in his past three games.

Though his quality, adaptability, and leadership qualities make him a standout in the third division, former Premier League player and current pundit Carlton Palmer does not anticipate the Blues authorizing his St. Andrew’s departure anytime soon. Bielik is on Stoke’s transfer radar ahead of next Monday’s deadline, according to TEAMtalk reporter Fraser Fletcher via X.

Krystian Bielik, a midfielder for Birmingham City, is being pursued by Stoke City, but I don’t think the Blues will let him go, Palmer told FLW.

With two games remaining, the Blues are two points ahead of Wycombe at the top of the League One standings. Right now, they are in the air.

When Krystian was brought up, Birmingham manager Chris Davies gave the sense that he wasn’t a player who would be moving anytime soon.

He is gradually returning to play after missing time due to a minor injury. Regaining promotion to the Championship for the upcoming season is the goal.

“I don’t see Birmingham letting him go, and I don’t see this happening. They’re doing well, and their goal is to return to the Championship.

“Bielik is a player that Davies has stated he would not want to let go, and why would he? He is a gifted athlete.

It is not something that I believe the manager of Birmingham City will consider. I don’t believe he’s trying to let anyone go; rather, he’s looking to add players.

“I don’t think Bielik will join Stoke because he is regarded as an essential member of Davies’ team.”

Birmingham will make a deal for Bielik tricky for Stoke

Birmingham leads League One right now, so it would be surprising to see them cut any first-team players this late in the transfer season, especially considering Chris Davies’s past resistance to letting players go unless a successor is found.

Prior to his team’s midweek trip to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night, manager Davies gave an update on Bielik’s fitness after he missed two games due to injury at the beginning of this month. He insisted that the 27-year-old would play a crucial role for the remainder of this season, indicating how difficult it may be for the Potters to sign him anytime soon.

“He is doing fine. We’re bringing them back into games before they’ve had much training, so they’re practically getting fit by playing the games,” Davies said to Birmingham’s club media channels. “Like a handful of them, they’ve had injuries, and they’ve been out for a couple of weeks.”

After playing a brief cameo against Exeter, he had another brief stint against Wrexham.

Although he hasn’t received the occasionally required training, he is developing. He is, however, healthy, available, and prepared to play, and he will be a key member of our team in the future.”

Birmingham fans can probably unwind as Monday’s deadline draws nearer since those words don’t seem like they come from a head coach who would be pleased to see his club captain leave so late in the January transfer window. Bielik will at least finish the season at St Andrews.

Stoke desperately needs a player like the Polish international to help them stay in the Championship this season, but considering their current financial status and the likely high price the Blues would demand to snatch him away from B9 this week, they might have to give up on pursuing his services soon.