So we’re just 19 days out from Hull at home to start the season. It’s been relatively quiet so far from a transfer perspective, albeit with the rumour-mill starting to come to life
We shouldn’t forget that this is a side that has just finished 5th, and has retained 99.6% of last seasons accumulated playing minutes. Sheffield Wednesday are down at 50%, Derby, PNE & Stoke are both in the 60’s. That is the benefit of having no loans, and players tied down to long contracts. (Credit
). This a a strong starting point.Full backs Miguel Angel Brau (free transfer) and Kaine Kesler-Hayden (£3.5m) have signed. Ryan Howley (Bristol Rovers), Jamie Paterson (Plymouth), Fabio Tavares (Burton Albion) and Jack Burroughs (Northampton) have all found new clubs this summer after their contracts expired.
Brighton’s Carl Rushworth has been heavily linked (Alex Cross - Talksport) to fill the Dovin ACL void. He had a successful loan spell at Swansea in 23/24, and Coventry would be able to offer him the minutes he needs with the Swede out injured. If it happens, it’ll be interesting to see if it’s a straight loan, and if there are any options to make it permanent.
Lampard is unlikely to want four senior keepers on the books, plus academy graduate Luke Bell. With Bell having featured in pre-season, and Collins having been conspicuously absent, the writing must be on the wall for the Chelsea academy graduate.
Kesler-Hayden joining means we are well stocked at right-back. With Latibeaudiere also able to fill in if needed. It is likely that MVE (who now has a new agent) will be sold if the right buyer can be found, Besiktas (also linked to Emerson Royal) are the latest team to be linked (Kartal Record). Coventry have been tenuously linked with young RB’s Richard Olise (Chelsea) and Caleb Kporha (Crystal Palace).
With the Sky Blues now having 3 senior left-backs, there is a possibility that Bidwell could move on, although there have been no substantiated links.
There has been little to no rumours regarding the existing four centre-backs or any incomings, with CB being an area of concern. Binks was absent from the AS Monaco friendly, with youngster Callum Perry playing 45 minutes.
Centre-midfield is an area where the Sky Blues are well stocked. It was therefore a surprise to see Daniel Pereira of Austin FC linked by South American transfer expert German Garcia Grova. With a fee of around $4m being suggested, there would surely need to be a midfield ongoing. That would likely be Ben Sheaf (Twitter links to Genoa). US transfer expert Tom Bogert has downplayed the Pereira rumours.
In the attacking midfield position, there were some early rumours of Rudoni to Newcastle, although that seems to have gone quiet. Coventry and Norwich are said to be trying to hijack Josh Windass’ move to Swansea, although it’s now understood that the former Owl will have a medical at the Welsh club today. (Ben Jacobs / Tom Bogert).
Out-wide, Tyhrys Dolan has been linked to virtually everybody following the expiration of his contract at Blackburn. The Sky Blues are said to be one of three clubs interested in Genoa’s Seydou Fini according to Ben Jacobs. Competition is needed for Sakamoto, with Raphael Borges Rodrigues still not featuring in pre-season. The Aussie could well go out on loan.
It’s all quiet up front. Emil Riis was linked, but has moved to Bristol City. St Truiden’s Adriano Bertaccini was suggested as a potential singing in one of my previous blogs:
The Shopping List: Strikers
Up-top I found this section the hardest to write of all the positions. Due to a lack of belief that they’ll be much movement in this area, and dearth of traditional strikers out there on the market. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
and was subsequently linked by Loic Woos. It would likely be 1 in and 1 out in the forward positions. Bassette was absent from the AS Monaco friendly too, and has been linked with a loan move back to Belgium. Simms wasn't trusted in the play-off semi-finals, but there is a sizeable fee to recover.
It could be a busy few weeks.
#PUSB