According to Sky Sports, Krystian Bielik is out of contract in the summer and wants to return to Birmingham City on loan, but is that really accurate?

Sky Sports write that the young Polish defender wants to go back to the Championship, and his contract expires at the end of the year. They took quotes from Polish outlet Przeglad Sportowy, to whom Bielik explained his situation.

“There was interest from several clubs, but the injury closed many doors,” said the 20-year-old. “I wanted to play in a first team in England. I would go to the Championship but, because of the injury, the clubs did not want to risk me.

“The next day [after the injury] I learned that I am leaving for a loan, I could choose between two major clubs from the Championship – Norwich or Nottingham. Well, I could not, because it turned out that the shoulder had to be operated.

“I got to League One and I’m glad that we managed to find a club in the senior football program by the end of the season. People think what they want. This league is as hard as the Championship.

Bielik
(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I want to play in the Championship. I’d love to go back to Birmingham. I’d feel best there. I would not need acclimatisation. I know the club, players, coaching staff.”

Permanent deal or loan?

The major point of contention is over whether Bielik means he wants a permanent deal, or another loan. As mentioned, Sky Sports claim his Arsenal contract expires in the summer. There are no other reports that corroborate this story though. Transfermarkt has his Arsenal contract expiring in 2020.

More to the point, in the original Polish interview, Bielik is discussing loan moves for the summer. There’s no suggestion that he’s thinking about a permanent move in the source material.

It seems either Sky are lying to try and generate more interest in the story, or they were caught out by transfermarkt listing Bielik’s Walsall contract as expiring in the summer.

I’d be surprised to see the defender move on before getting a chance in the Arsenal first team. So far his injuries have prevented that from happening, but I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity when fully fit. First things first, let’s see how his Walsall loan goes.