Championship side Birmingham City are lining up an approach for Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley, who could be sold after Newcastle United’s promotion to the top flight.

The former Blackburn Rovers graduate was largely used as backup to the first-team as the Magpies clinched promotion to the Premier League in the first coming. The 25-year-old will undoubtedly want regular playing time for next season, and the Tynesiders are open to offers for their central defender.

League rivals Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa are also monitoring the situation of Hanley, but Harry Redknapp could use his experience to his advantage in order to lure the Scotland international to St Andrew’s. The experienced head coach managed to turn the club’s fortunes in the dying stages of the campaign to keep them in the Championship last term, and he is now eyeing a tilt for promotion with the Midlands club.

Coincidentally, Redknapp was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur who downed the Blues from the Premier League back in the 2010-11 season, and they have since lingered with the relegation zone rather than fighting for the playoff positions. Hanley has been a regular mid-table player in the Championship, and he could be the perfect fit for the club, who no longer have the lanky Krystian Bielik to depend upon. The Arsenal defender played a key role in the defence during his six-month loan stint, but he now appears to be heading to Norwich City on a year-long loan deal.

Redknapp is likely to call quits on his managerial stint following his time with the Blues, and next season could determine whether he remains in his job for a much extended period of time. Birmingham City were initially near the playoff zone under Gary Rowett but the club’s hierarchy surprisingly sacked the manager to bring in Gianfranco Zola who only made things worse with two wins in 24 outings. Eventually, it was left to Redknapp to save the day as he bagged two wins from his three matches to secure the club’s position in the Championship.