Clubs will be preparing for the next summer transfer window as the Championship season approaches its final weeks.
With their divisional status still up in the air and a chance to make the play-offs for the second straight season in addition to their FA Cup exploits (they will play Manchester United in the semi-finals at Wembley), Coventry City will undoubtedly be among the clubs making backup plans.
The Sky Blues will be working under different budgetary restraints depending on whether they decide to remove their 23-year ban from the top flight or continue as a second-tier team for an additional season. In any case, FLW has examined what can make the CBS Arena’s transfer window a “dream” one.
Marc Leonard is added.
Marc Leonard is one individual who has recently been consistently connected to a possible move to this area of the West Midlands; the youthful midfielder is excelling for Northampton Town once more this season.
Leonard would not only be a wise addition to the City midfield, but it also fits with their strategy of going after some of League One’s top players, like Ephron Mason-Clark, who signed with the team from Peterborough United and will combine nicely with the others in preseason.
Having more than shown himself at Sixfields over the previous season and a half, the Scotland U21 international would see the possibility of a move to the second tier as the next stage in his development before becoming a mainstay in and around the Brighton first-team setup.
With almost ten goal contributions from midfield this season, it’s hardly surprising that Coventry, Preston, and Portsmouth are keeping an eye on him in anticipation of a potential summer transfer drama.
Callum O’Hare reaches a new agreement
It would be a dream situation if Coventry were able to sign Callum O’Hare to a new contract, even though many people think the only way they could accomplish that would be if the Sky Blues were promoted. However, this unlikely scenario would need to be sorted before June 30th.
Given his talent and the possible sum the club could seek in the coming years, it would be devastating to lose the playmaker on a free transfer, even if they are unsuccessful in doing so.
The 25-year-old has scored nine goals and provided four assists since making his long-term injury comeback in October, according to a recent report from the Sun. Everton, Southampton, Fulham, and Burnley, as well as SPFL heavyweights Rangers and Celtic, were mentioned as possible summer destinations for O’Hare. He also rejected City’s most recent contract offer.
The Sky Blues administration might consider making one last bold bid despite the recent rejection—many would contend the team has nothing to lose in this specific situation.
Willock was looking to transfer for free.
Conversely, Coventry could take advantage of a similar situation at QPR and pursue Chris Willock’s services for little to nothing if O’Hare were to go on a free.
Even if they are to stay in the second division, the 25-year-old has won over a lot of supporters during his time at Loftus Road. However, the two clubs’ current situations couldn’t be more different from one another.
It would be wise business for the Sky Blues to add his services as a squad player even if they were to win promotion through the play-offs.
In 2021/22, when Rangers was in the running for the play-offs for much of the season, he had his best productive stretch of the career in West London, with seven goals and eleven assists.
Given that Coventry is frequently a forward-thinking and aggressive team, Robins may find great value in the 26-year-old’s adaptability.
Gyokeres windfall Coventry City land 12-Feb-2024 11:35 PM-149
The club will definitely be closely watching Viktor Gyokeres’ future in addition to the current group of players. Gyokeres has been playing well since leaving for Sporting CP in June of last year, setting a club record.
According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal is the most recent team to be linked to him this summer. Sporting has reportedly included a 15% sell-on clause in any deal that could be reached, thus Coventry stands to gain significantly from the trade.
Depending on whether the provision addresses the percentage of profit made on his £20 million sale following the Sky Blues’ defeat to Luton Town in the play-off final ten months ago, they might collect anywhere from £9.9 million to £12.9 million as a result.
Such cash would be a big advantage for Robins, who, having already accomplished so many brilliant transfers during his time, would undoubtedly reinvest the funds once more.
Players on the squad move on.
Like every other club, Coventry will be trying to improve their financial situation by offloading a lot of “deadwood” in the summer.
It is unlikely that Luis Binks would sign a long-term deal to stay at the CBS Arena because of his limited role in the squad, which makes it difficult to justify the estimated £30,000 weekly salary that the Sky Blues have contributed to during the campaign. Instead, the money could be put to much better use going forward.
In the meantime, it appears like Simon Moore and the seasoned Liam Kelly will leave on free transfers, and it wouldn’t be out of the question that Matty Godden will leave the CBS Arena in the upcoming months as well.
As we already saw when Kyle McFadzean moved to Blackburn in January, Godden and Kelly in particular have been tremendous contributors to the club’s recent trajectory. However, Robins must set sentimentality aside and realise that it’s highly unlikely that they will play any more part in the club’s ambitions in the years to come.
Additionally, one may argue that Ben Wilson, who was among the best goalkeepers in the Championship the previous season, should leave because he hasn’t looked like himself this season and Brad Collins has made City look much more confident in goal.
GET MORE NEWS HERE