Coventry City transfer news from CoventryLive as the Sky Blues look to add at least two more players before Friday night’s 11pm deadline
Reported Coventry City target and Slovenian international David Brekalo challenges Norway striker Erling Haaland during the UEFA Nations League in June last year
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But, unless the player is dissatisfied and wants to leave to gain more playing time, Robins is unlikely to let him go at this late stage of the season.
Coventry City are still looking for fresh players as the summer transfer window approaches its end. Ten new faces have already arrived at the CBS Arena, with Sky Blues owner Doug King investing heavily in the aftermath of the high-profile exits of Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer.
So far we have seen the arrival of eight permanent signings in Jay Dasilva on a free transfer from Bristol City, striker Ellis Simms for an initial £3.5million from Everton, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto for £1.5m from Oostende, goalkeeper Brad Collins from Barnsley (undisclosed), centre-halves Joel Latibeaudiere from Swansea (compensation) and Bobby Thomas for a reported £2m from Burnley, Milan van Ewijk for £3.4m from SC Heerenveen and striker Haji Wright for a club record fee of £7.7m from Turkish side Antalyaspor.
The club have also added two loans in centre-back Luis Binks from Bologna and attacking midfielder Yasin Ayari from Brighton.
However, City’s recruitment department is still working to reinforce key areas before Friday’s 11pm deadline, with Mark Robins having highlighted some of the positions that he would like to see strengthened. Top of the list is a dynamic midfielder to help fill the void left by Hamer, while a left-footed central defender is also wanted to add strength, depth and competition at the back.
While most of the focus is on incoming transfers, there could be the odd departure with at least one experienced figure expected to move on.
Here we take a look at some of the players linked with the club ahead of the transfer deadline at 11pm on Friday (Sept 1).
Ins
Liam Kitching
The Sky Blues are understood to have had a bid of £2.5m, rising to £3m, rejected by Barnsley for their skipper. It remains to be seen whether City will go back in for the 23-year-old centre-back to test the Tykes’ resolve. The League One club, however, appear determined to keep the former Leeds United prospect with Barnsley chairman Neerav Parekh telling a fans’ forum last week that they are ‘definitely keeping’ the player.
Asked if Kitching, along with fellow defender Jordan Williams who has been linked with interest from elsewhere, would be sold this month, Parekh said they are ‘definitely’ staying, reports the Barnsley
The chairman said: “We have turned down multiple bids for players this summer. We turned down a bid for £3million and another in high six figures. Both of those players will be Barnsley players by the end of the window.”
David Brekalo
The €5million rated 24-year-old Solvenian international centre-back is shining at Norwegian club Viking Stavanger and, according to reports in the Slovenian press, is a firm target for the Sky Blues. Nogomania.com claims interest from the Championship club and rival suitors FC Midtjylland from Denmark.
The report claims Viking are “consistently rejecting offers” received for the player, with “several” clubs having already come forward with a specific transfer fee, but Viking are “not yet satisfied.”
The offers have significantly increased the player’s price, it says, which has currently reached the amount of five million euros (£4.2m).
Reported Coventry City target David Brekalo of Slovenia slides in on Spain’s Dani Gomez during the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships
Central midfielders
The Sky Blues have been linked with another Barnsley player, midfielder Callum Styles, but CoventryLive understands Mark Robins has no interest in the 23-year-old who went on loan to Championship Millwall last season until he was sidelined for three months with a thigh injury.
It’s understood City are looking at the European market for their midfield target who will, ideally, be a box-to-box operator who can do a holding role as well as link play to the forwards.
Outs
Ryan Howley
Howley is the latest to go out with the 19-year-old midfielder having this week joined Scottish Premier side Dundee on a season-long loan following Jack Burrough’s move to League One Lincoln City.
Simon Moore
But, unless the player is dissatisfied and wants to leave to gain more playing time, Robins is unlikely to let him go at this late stage of the season.
The goalkeeper is poised to leave by the weekend after falling to third in the pecking order and, barring injury or a significant drop in form from either Ben Wilson or Brad Collins, is unlikely to see any playing action in his final year of contract.
Kasey Palmer is a model.
Following the potentially critical injury to offensive midfielder Josh Sargent, the 26-year-old playmaker’s strong form has apparently grabbed the interest of his former Huddersfield boss David Wagner, currently manager of Norwich City. The Canaries, though, are not expected to make a late move for the Sky Blues star.
Jake Bidwell
The left wing-back has played just 12 minutes of Championship football so far this season after losing his place to summer signing Jay Dasilva, but after an impressively solid and consistent 2022/23 campaign is highly thought of by Robins. He provides competition and is a more than able back-up option for the position but may just need to bide his time to get his chance again.
However, Bidwell was on the verge of leaving in January when Birmingham City made a bid for him, a deal that would have been completed if Coventry had been successful in signing Dasilva during the mid-season transfer window. Preston North End were said to be interested in him, but manager Ryan Lowe has stated that he is no longer looking to reinforce at that position.
But, unless the player is dissatisfied and wants to leave to gain more playing time, Robins is unlikely to let him go at this late stage of the season.
