Birmingham City have completed the bulk of their transfer business in one week by making six signings before some of their Championship rivals had even started their summer shopping. Blues bagged James Beadle, Tommy Doyle, Demarai Gray, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kyogo Furuhashi and Kanya Fujimoto last week, adding to their acquisition of German defender Phil Neumann. There will inevitably be more arrivals but Chris Davies and Craig Gardner have got the ‘must haves’ out the way. If the Championship season started tomorrow, Blues would be among the strongest teams in the league on paper. So, where else should and could they strengthen? Left-back is the most obvious position because Alex Cochrane had to battle through almost the entirety of last season without competition. Lee Buchanan was plagued by a calf injury before suffering a serious knee injury upon his return to action in December. The likelihood is that Buchanan’s recovery will take him into the autumn, but we need to ascertain exactly when Davies expects him back before saying that left-back should be Blues’ priority. Signing Osayi-Samuel helps matters somewhat. The Nigeria international can play at left-back, as can Ethan Laird, so Davies has back-up options to Cochrane if the position isn’t strengthened before the season begins. A left-sided centre-back is required to give Blues balance at the back. Christoph Klarer, Krystian Bielik and Neumann are a formidable trio but Blues need another option should Dion Sanderson move on, as expected. Ben Davies would be ideal given that he is left-footed and had the benefit of a season at Blues on loan, but new Rangers chief Russell Martin appears keen to take a closer look at him and that assessment has been delayed due to an injury. Blues are now well stocked in attacking areas but another number 10 wouldn’t go amiss. Willum Willumsson and Fujimoto are the natural fits for that position but the jury is still out on the former whose influence waned as last season progressed. The hope will be that Willumsson improves with better quality players around him and Davies is expected to utilise him in pre-season. Getting players out of the door is of more importance now because Blues’ squad is very bloated. Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Sanderson, Manny Longelo and Tyler Roberts all look destined to leave and doubts have arisen over the futures of Alfons Sampsted and Emil Hansson following Blues’ early window business. Sampsted now has Laird and Osayi-Samuel in front of him at right-back, while Hansson – who spent a chunk of last season injured – has Gray and Keshi Anderson ahead of him in his preferred left-wing position. We shouldn’t be surprised if the next few weeks see more exits than arrivals as Blues balance their squad.