Sources: Birmingham City tell Roberts he can leave on a January free transfer
Birmingham City have told their under-23s captain Mitchell Roberts he can leave on a free during the January window, Football Insider understands.
The left-back, 21, has appeared twice this season for the first team and can also slot in at centre-back.
A Birmingham source has told Football Insider that the club have decided to allow Roberts to go on a free transfer this month as an interested EFL club have already reached their full quota of loans.
His St Andrew’s contract is due to expire in the summer.
Roberts made four starts in a loan spell with League Two side Harrogate last season in his first taste of senior football.
The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Birmingham and signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2019.
The youngster was the subject of reported interest from English champions Manchester City and Scottish giants Celtic in the summer of 2019 but remained at St Andrew’s.
The Hagley-born defender has made 10 appearances for the Blues’ under-23 side this term, conceding 26 goals.
Steve Spooner’s youngsters sit rock bottom of Premier League 2’s Division 2.
Roberts came into the senior squad to make his first senior league appearance in a 2-1 defeat against Reading in November last year.
The youngster also featured in a League Cup second-round defeat against Fulham earlier this season.
Birmingham sit 17th in the Championship, winning just one of their last five matches in the second tier.
The Midlands side face play-off hopefuls Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.
In other news, West Brom and other Championship sides in race to sign Middlesbrough star.