James handling transfer noise well - Blues boss Davies

Jordan James has won 11 caps for Wales and was Birmingham's second top league scorer last season with eight goals

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies says he is impressed with the way young Wales midfielder Jordan James has handled continued speculation this summer over a potential foreign move.

After being linked with two Italian Serie A clubs at the start of the year, followed by further speculation that he would move abroad, the 20-year-old is now reportedly on the verge of joining French top flight side Rennes in an £8m move.

But James, who scored eight Championship goals last season, has still figured prominently for newly-relegated League One side Blues throughout pre-season.

"He's shown a brilliant attitude," Davies told BBC Radio WM.

"Every day JJ has worked hard and there has been no difference in him to all the other players.

"That is testament to him as there has been a lot of noise and speculation around him.

"I spoke about this with him right from day one. But, for such a young man, to deal with it all with the composure he has I've been really impressed."

While Davies has made nine new signings so far this summer - with a likely 10th to follow - Blues have also jettisoned a lot of players.

On top of the five released at the end of last season after their contracts expired - defender Marc Roberts, striker Scott Hogan, midfielders Ivan Sunjic and Gary Gardner and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge - veteran keeper John Ruddy turned down a new deal to sign for Newcastle United.

Academy product James, who has scored 10 times in 104 senior appearances for Blues, still has another year to run on his current contract.

Chris Davies was talking to BBC Radio WM's sports editor Richard Wilford.

Analysis - BBC Radio WM sports editor Richard Wilford on Blues' hopes for 2024-25

After finally falling through the trapdoor to League One, the expectation will be that Blues turn their fortunes around pretty quickly, and the backing of owners Knighthead has been very much evident over the summer months.

But this is no exercise in trying to buy promotion, it is a far wider attempt to reboot the playing side of the club while creating a new identity.

That is best demonstrated by the appointment of Chris Davies, a vastly experienced coach but a first-timer in the manager’s hotseat. He is aware that expectations will be high, yet acutely conscious that the division will throw up plenty of challenges.

While the final shape of Blues’ squad is unlikely to be known until the start of September, some of last season’s core remain in the guise of Krystian Bielik, Dion Sanderson and Paik Seung-Ho.

They have added a plug-in-and-play goalscorer in Alfie May, Brighton academy products Marc Leonard and Alex Cochrane and two intriguing big bodies from European football – defender Christoph Klarer and attacking midfielder Willum Willumsson.

Davies favours a high press and demands a lot of energy from his players. Pre-season matches have shown a real buy-in from the squad to a more cohesive, possession-based style of play.

There is an optimism about St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park that has not been visible in recent years. Off the field, the owners have achieved a lot in 12 months. Now it’s all about getting things right on the pitch.