Kabongo Tshimanga set to leave Chesterfield with Birmingham City leading way

Kabongo Tshimanga celebrates for Chesterfield after scoring away to Altrincham - Credit: Chesterfield FC

Kabongo Tshimanga looks set to leave Chesterfield, with Championship side Birmingham City leading the race.

A prolific goal scorer at National League level, Tshimanga joined the Spireites from fellow fifth-tier side Boreham Wood at the beginning of last season.

Getting off to a flying start, Birmingham-bound Tshimanga netted 18 times for Chesterfield before the January window, where his performances gained interest from various clubs higher up the pyramid.

Read: Tshimanga scores as Chesterfield show promotion spirit to squeeze past Altrincham 

Despite retaining the services of the striker, Chesterfield would be without Tshimanga for the majority of the rest of the season, after he suffered a broken leg against Weymouth in mid-February.

And it looks as if Paul Cook’s side will have to make do without once more, with Birmingham favourites to sign the 24-year-old before the EFL transfer window shuts on Thursday evening.

After a deal for Bordeaux’s Josh Maja collapsed, the Championship outfit switched their attention to Tshimanga, who had himself been linked with a move to Wigan Athletic this week.

Blues head coach John Eustace was asked about the potential of a move for Tshimanga, hinting at its possibility:

"I believe the clubs might be talking but until I am told it is done, I don’t know."

While Chesterfield are reluctant to sell Tshimanga, as they deem him a vital part of the club’s plans to gain promotion to the Football League, the Spireites do have a price they are willing to see him for.

Journalist Charlie Walden reported there have been discrepancies between Chesterfield and Birmingham over the transfer fee, but rumours suggest a price could be around £750,000.

It marks a bitter blow for Chesterfield, who had hoped to keep Tshimanga and push for a promotion spot this season.

The dominative striker has netted twice in four matches for Chesterfield so far this season, helping Cook’s side get off to an unbeaten start in the National League.

Should Tshimanga leave the club, Chesterfield will still have plenty of time to source his replacement, with the National League not adhering to the EFL’s transfer window rules.