The 2018 World Cup is well underway and there are a number of players that have already made a big impact for their country in their opening group game, and surely some of them will have caught the eye of Birmingham City manager Garry Monk.
The 39-year-old will surely be keen to make some moves in the transfer market this summer to ensure the Midlands outfit significantly improve if they want to be promotion contenders this season, having flirted with relegation last term.
If the former Swansea City and Leeds United boss is to achieve that he may need to strengthen his team all across the pitch, and he may have a particular focus in attacking areas give his team only scored a paltry 38 goals in 46 Championship fixtures during the 2017/18 campaign.
The Bedford-born boss will already have some targets in mind for City, who should move to sign a 5ft 9in Leicester City attacker now the Foxes have signed James Maddison, but he may have been convinced by the impressive displays of a number of individuals in Russia, too.
Here are three World Cup stars that Monk has surely added to his summer transfer wishlist…
With the futures of both David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak said to be in doubt, one of Monk’s transfer priorities this summer may well be to bring a new number one to St Andrew’s, and he could be tempted to make a shock swoop for Halldorsson following his brilliant display for Iceland in their memorable 1-1 draw with Argentina on Saturday.
The 34-year-old, who currently plays for Randers FC, saved a Lionel Messi penalty and made a number of other impressive saves for his country, and he could be a key player for Birmingham in the Championship this season.
Australia weren’t fancied to take anything against France in their opening 2018 World Cup fixture, but they came close to getting a point before they eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat, and Kruse made a big impact on the left wing for the Socceroos.
The 29-year-old caused Les Bleus right-back Benjamin Pavard plenty of problems, and as well as using his pace to drive forward, he also won five fouls according to WhoScored.com.
The wideman scored seven goals and provided a further six assists in 30 appearances in all competitions German second-tier side VfL Bochum last term, and with just one year remaining on his contract he could be snapped up for a reasonable fee this summer.
Another of Monk’s priorities may well be to bring in a goalscoring winger and centre-forward this summer, and he could get a player that is able to play in both positions in Tunisia international Ben Youssef.
The tall attacker was the one that Kyle Walker was adjudged to have fouled for his country’s penalty against the Three Lions on Monday, and he caused problems in the final third for England’s defence.
Four goals and one assist in eight appearances for Saudi side Al-Ettifaq in 2018 shows the quality he could bring in attacking areas for Birmingham.
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