Birmingham see enquiry for 28-year-old forward turned down, player could get Champions League opportunity

Relegated to Ligue 2 with Lorient after losing their playoff to Troyes, Benjamin Moukandjo could be on the move this summer.

The Cameroon international, who scored 13 goals in 25 league appearances last season, only has one year left on his deal with the French club, and while an exit is likely, his next destination won’t be England.

According to France Football, Birmingham, who were after the 28-year-old, had made an enquiry regarding the striker, but Moukandjo, hearing of this, made his intentions to the Ligue 2 side clear: he ‘absolutely’ does not want to play in England.

The French magazine explain on their website the forward has ‘other clubs interested in him’, and Le10 Sport in France believe they know one of them: Spartak Moscow.

If that is indeed the case, then it’s easy to see why Moukandjo would turn down the opportunity to team up with Harry Redknapp at St Andrew’s, as the Russian side are preparing a season in the Champions League, qualifying directly for the group stage after winning their league last year.

While a move to the Championship from Ligue 2 would certainly be a step up, the chance of playing elite European football doesn’t exactly present itself every day, and if he does indeed take it, few will be able to blame him.