The Shopping List: GK/FB
Some targets Coventry could & should be looking at. You can thank me later Dean Austin
Goalkeeper
I wouldn’t expect anything to happen here, unless the club are able to move Collins on and want cover until Dovin is back.
Gabriel Slonina is highly rated at Chelsea, was doing ok in a loan spell at Barnsley before suffering a hand injury. Lucas Bergström has been released at Chelsea. Brentford will potentially let one of Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson and Ellery Balcombe out on loan, the young Icelander is already a regular for his country and will need football to develop, Balcombe is just back from a successful loan spell at Motherwell.
Right-Back
As a minimum the Sky Blues require back-up for MVE, and they could also need to sign a replacement with vultures circling for the Dutchman.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden has been linked already after a strong season at Preston, and it’s understood Aston Villa are open to letting him go for a fee around £5million. Pacy and able to play in a variety of a positions. Attacking full-back who gets forward often, good dribbler in tight spaces. High number of recoveries too which shows he has the pace to get back. Ideal replacement for Milan.
Bryan Reynolds continues to impress in Belgium at Westerlo, after things didn’t work out at Roma.
The USA international will be desperate to get back into the USMNT ahead of the World Cup. Similar in profile to MVE, the Texan is pacy and extremely cross heavy and that would suit Coventry’s style of play. Over 6ft so not easily targeted in the air either. Transfermarket value him at €3.5million.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy has struggled to make an impact at Genoa and could be open to a move back to the UK. Moves for youngsters Caleb Kporha, Richard Olise and James Donnelly have been mentioned.
Left-Back
There is likely to be an ambition to make an improvement at LB. Bidwell and Dasilva both have big limitations. Despite recently signing a new contract, Bidwell would be the more likely of the two to move on.
Miguel Ángel Brau is out of contract at Granada and has been linked in the press. He’s had a break out season in La Liga2, with his team a win away from making the play-offs. The data shows him to be a real allrounder, who enjoys his defensive work.
There are two that really stand out in Belgium.
Flavio Nazinho is posting some really strong numbers for Cercle Brugge. He played youth international football for Portugal and made 11 appearances for Sporting but couldn’t break through. Seven goal contributions in 1700 minutes, and gets through a huge amount of work in both defence and attack. Valued at €3million
Jose Marsa is a different style left-back. Not so much a raw athlete, but a real technician. A product of the Barcelona academy, he moved to Sporting and made 8 appearances, he’s now close to 40 appearances for KV Mechelen. Can play LCB, LB and LWB. Valued at approx €2million.
Kristoffer Lund, an American playing for Palermo in Serie B, Shaquille Pinas who I’ve profiled previously and Oliver Zandén are interesting too.
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