Yahoo News Sell, marry, avoid - Coventry City’s transfer priorities amid Joe Worrall and Ilay Camara links
Coventry City have started their transfer business early compared to most. Many of their Championship rivals are yet to get a single deal over the line, but that’s not the case for the Sky Blues.
Already through the door are four new faces – wingers Ephron Mason-Clark and Raphael Borges Rodrigues, defender Luis Binks and attacking midfielder Jack Rudoni. Mark Robins has also been linked with a stack of others as the summer rumour mill gets in full swing.
The City manager and his coaches will welcome the majority of his existing squad, minus a couple of internationals, and the new recruits to Ryton on Monday morning when the club reports back for pre-season training, starting with the usual fitness tests.
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In the meantime, there will be more deals bubbling away in the background, with head of recruitment Dean Austin and owner Doug King trying to get business done as soon as possible, certainly before the squad heads off to Europe for their annual summer training camp and expected opening friendly fixture.
So with some work already done – and plenty more to do – we take a look at which of the many players they have been linked with, and who City should "Sell, Marry (Sign) or Avoid"...
Sell
Mark Robins insisted in May after the final ball of the 2023/24 campaign had been kicked that he wasn’t looking to sell any of his key players, determined to keep the core of his impressive and evolving squad, safe in the knowledge that the likes of Haji Wright and Ellis Simms will be better for their first full seasons at the club. That, in fact, goes for the majority of the players who joined City last summer and grew, developed and improved over the course of their first season at the level.
Ben Sheaf, meanwhile, is the club’s most saleable asset from the group who got to the play-off final the year before, and who has been the subject of plenty of speculation linking him with other clubs. But, again, Robins is steadfast in his determination to keep the midfielder, who is likely to be named as his new captain. There’s always the chance that someone comes along with a bid too good to turn down, of course, but let’s assume he’s going nowhere.
That being the case, there are only a few others who City might realistically look to sell. And in all cases we’re probably talking about nominal fees in a bid to move people on and free up wages for new signings.
We know that striker Matty Godden, for example, has been frustrated by his lack of game time. And given the fact that he’s already had interest shown in him from at least one League One club (Charlton Athletic), there’s a good chance he could move on this summer. How much City would get for him remains to be seen, particularly given his age (32) and the fact he’s in the last year of his contract.
The same goes for Ben Wilson, although his stock should be pretty high following his outstanding 2022/23 campaign. But, again, he’s understood to be frustrated after losing his place and there’s a strong argument for City to bring in a new goalkeeper, in which case he’d appear to be surplus to requirements.
Another possible candidate for change is Jake Bidwell, who would be allowed to leave if another club comes in for him. City are thought to be keen to up the competition at left-back.
Marry
Top of the list has to be the renewal of vows with Ben Sheaf. The 26-year-old still has two years left on his current contract but as one of the club’s star players and most influential midfielders, there’s a strong case to get him tied down on a new and improved deal to keep him happy and give the club security moving forwards.
As for new signings, City have been linked with RWDM Molenbeek right-back Ilay Camara. Robins is short of competition for Milan van Ewijk and it is reported that Camara could cost around £1.5m to £2m, which is in line with City’s spending on a number of players last summer.
He can also play as a right winger/ right midfielder and that versatility would also appeal to Coventry who have been looking to add quality to compete with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who was also plucked from the Belgian leagues this time last year.
Elsewhere, City have been linked with a bit of experience at the back - both Middlesbrough free agent Paddy McNair and Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall are claimed to be of interest. Robins has spoken about replacing the leadership and experience lost when Kyle McFadzean moved on, and his young defenders could certainly do with a more steadying head after conceding too many goals last term.
Avoid
Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass is set to become a free agent on Monday (July 1). The 30-year-old has been linked with a host of clubs, from the Sky Blues to newly relegated Birmingham City. Windass, son of former Bradford City and Hull legend Dean, scored six goals and provided two assists in 25 appearances to help Wednesday retain their Championship status last term, but he doesn’t fit Coventry’s recruitment model in terms of age.
Certainly, if Godden goes then Robins will need a replacement striker, someone who is different to his 19-goal big lads, Simms and Wright. But a young and hungry goal scorer would be better suited to City’s ambitions, rather than an experienced head who might still be able to contribute at this level but probably not in the league above.
