Yahoo News Three ‘wait, what?’ Coventry City transfer links so far this summer
The summer transfer window officially opens for business on Friday (June 14) and Coventry City have already been linked with interest in a host of potential new signings as Mark Robins prepares to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2024/25 Championship campaign, when it is hoped the club can edge ever closer to promotion back to the Premier League.
The Sky Blues boss has already got two players over the line, Peterborough United winger Ephron Mason-Clarke (signed back in January) and Australian A-League wide man Raphael Borges Rodrigues, who has signed for an undisclosed fee from Macarthur FC and hoped to provide hot competition on the flanks.
Meanwhile, barely a few days goes by without another name being thrown into the mix with claims that City are in for players both at home and abroad, from Huddersfield Town’s Jack Rudoni to New Zealand international Marko Stamenic.
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But what about out-going business? Robins is hoping to keep his best players intact, although there could be a bit of movement if players fancy their chances elsewhere – the likes of Matty Godden and Ben Wilson, for example, who may well be looking for more guaranteed first team football after slipping down the pecking order.
The summer gossip columns are awash with rumours and social media rife with transfer tittle-tattle. Here we look at three Sky Blues transfer speculation stories that provided a ‘wait, what?’ moment for fans.
Jay Dasilva to Bundesliga
The Wales international was last month reported to have been watched by German side Freiburg. That’s according to The Sun’s transfer specialist Alan Nixon, who says the 26-year-old could be tempted by the prospect of playing European football next season if the Bundesliga club bagged a spot in the Conference League.
The Sky Blues full-back moved to the CBS Arena last summer on a free transfer from fellow Championship side Bristol City but despite starting the campaign, has had an indifferent season overall, during which time he eventually lost his place to friendly rival Jake Bidwell.
The former Chelsea prospect is one of Adi Viveash’s former pupils from his time at the Premier League club where he was unable to break through, before finally leaving Stamford Bridge in 2019, when he signed for the Robins. After four seasons at Aston Gate he was released by the club and joined Coventry, just a few months after a January move had failed to materialise.
City’s assistant manager Viveash said recently of Dasilva: “I think Jay would say by his own admission that he’s not been as good as he would have liked in his first year, but Jay will get better here because he also feels it’s the right place for him.”
The defender has three more years left on his contract with the Sky Blues. He has made 42 appearances for Mark Robins’ side in his first season, including 25 league starts and 12 from the bench. During that time he has played as a wing-back, left-back and occasionally been deployed higher up on the wing.
Joel Latibeaudiere to Sporting Lisbon and Ajax
The Daily Telegraph has claimed that Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and Dutch side Ajax have the 24-year-old Jamaican international on their radar. The report by sports journalist Mike McGrath stated: “Sporting Lisbon are looking closely at Coventry centre-back Joel Latibeaudiere after their successful raid on the Championship club for Viktor Gyökeres.
“Gyökeres is the top scorer in the Portuguese Primeira Liga following his £20.5 million move from Coventry, with Latibeaudiere seen as a player who can also take the step from the second tier of English football.
“Latibeaudiere, 24, was part of the England Under-17 team who won the World Cup seven years ago alongside the likes of Phil Foden and Marc Guehi. But he has since switched nationalities to Jamaica where he is seen as a future captain and impressed in recent Concacaf Nations League matches against United States and Panama. Ajax have also watched Latibeaudiere...”
Asked by CoventryLive if there is anything in the report, as far as he knows, and whether he is expecting interest in some of his players in the summer window, Robins said: “I’m not expecting anything, so it will be a surprise or maybe an unwelcome surprise, or whatever. I honestly don’t know.”
Ben Sheaf to Man United
Manchester United are claimed to be interested in Coventry City ’s star midfielder Ben Sheaf, with reports suggesting the Premier League side see the 26-year-old as ‘an option’ for their summer transfer plans.
Journalist and editor-in-chief of the Theatre of Red platform, Shaun Connolly, has reported that the Red Devils are eyeing the Sky Blues player who, he says, will cost in the region of £14.5m to £21m from the Championship club.
“Amongst the many names already linked with a big-money move to Manchester United, Coventry City’s Ben Sheaf has emerged as a viable option,” he writes on his Theatre of Red website.
“The Theatre of Red understands United have been impressed by his consistency throughout a challenging campaign – including a notable performance against Erik ten Hag’s side in the FA Cup.”
The European football correspondent for Breaking The Lines (@BTLVid) adds: “Given Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire to shave expenditure and rebuild the squad within set parameters, shrewd acquisitions are required – with a deal for Sheaf in the region of €17-€25 Million a possibility.”
The former Arsenal prospect has clear ambitions to return to the Premier League and has already been linked with interest from Fulham and Crystal Palace as well as recently relegated Luton Town.
