Image: Flickr/ Ian Halsey

A look at this summer’s potential free agent coups for Coventry City

With the door to the recent January transfer window now slammed shut, Coventry City and their fans will be looking ahead to any potential transfer business that could bolster the side this summer.

Yet there is one rather agreeable complication: Coventry’s Premier League dreams are still well and truly alive following a remarkable upturn in form that has seen them climb into the playoff positions, level on points with West Bromwich Albion in fifth in the Championship standings.

If promotion is to be secured, Coventry will be looking further afield for signatures to mount a cohesive Premier League survival campaign

Since a stoppage time capitulation away to Norwich City in early January, new boss Frank Lampard’s side have tallied nine wins from eleven in the Championship, the only blots on their recent record being 2-0 defeats both to high-flying Leeds United and a Derby County side scrambling for survival.

If promotion, however unlikely, is to be secured, Coventry will be looking further afield for signatures to mount a cohesive Premier League survival campaign next term.

If, though, Coventry are to remain in the second tier for next season, there is an abundance of experience in the free agency market that could provide crucial depth for another promotion push.

Among others in East Lancashire, Burnley duo Josh Brownhill and Connor Roberts could well be available if the Clarets secure promotion themselves in May. The two having been relegated from the Premier League twice for the Clarets, boss Scott Parker would be well-advised to look elsewhere.

The standout option potentially available at centre half is Queen Park Rangers’ Jimmy Dunne, who is still yet to agree a new deal at Loftus Road

Norwich City are still yet to trigger the extension option in Emiliano Marcondes’ contract, the Dane having arrived in Norfolk in October last year. Marcondes would provide flair and versatility in midfield and attack as well as Premier League promotion credentials, having netted in Brentford’s Wembley triumph against Swansea City four years ago.

Stalwart Victor Moses is also likely to be available this summer, with his club Luton Town set to suffer successive relegations and find themselves once again in League One. Wages may well be an issue, but the former Nigerian international and Premier League winner could provide adequate depth to Milan van Ewijk at right back.

There is very little in the way of striking options in the free agency market

The standout option potentially available at centre half is Queen Park Rangers’ Jimmy Dunne, who is still yet to agree a new deal at Loftus Road amid January interest from automatic promotion hopefuls Sheffield United. If Lampard could tempt Dunne into making the move to the West Midlands, the Irishman would make a fine addition either at the right of Coventry’s back three having been moved to right back last season under boss Martí Cifuentes.

There is very little in the way of striking options in the free agency market, with a misfiring Ellis Simms and an injured Haji Wright proving problematic all season.

Rhian Brewster is in talks to renew his deal at Sheffield United and would be a massive coup anyhow, but Hull City are still yet to exercise their option to extend Italian top division veteran Joao Pedro’s stay on Humberside. If available at the right wage, the forward could ease Lampard’s striking headache.

As things stand, Coventry are yet to offer new deals to experienced duo Jamie Allen and Ben Wilson. Having served the Sky Blues for coming on six years, the pair have fallen out of favour this season, midfielder Allen making only thirteen league appearances and goalkeeper Wilson being sidelined through a combination of summer signing Oliver Dovin and a serious knee injury.

Coventry must wait to see whether they can clinch a top-six berth and mount a victorious playoff campaign, having fallen at the final hurdle to Luton Town two years ago. Yet, if promotion is still not to materialise, Lampard will be confident ahead of next season with healthy options available in the transfer market.

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