Transfer deadline day state of play as Coventry City prepare to conclude their summer business

Coventry City will conclude their summer transfer business today, with the Sky Blues having until tonight’s 11pm deadline to get any remaining deals done, either in or out of the club.

So far Mark Robins has let go four senior players – Liam Kelly (free to Rotherham), Simon Moore (free to Sunderland), Callum O’Hare (free to Sheffield United) and Matty Godden (nominal fee to Charlton Athletic) – and added seven new faces, including January’s delayed arrival of Ephron Mason-Clark.

He joined summer captures Raphael, Luis Binks, Jack Rudoni, Oliver Dovin, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Norman Bassette to a total tune of around £15m – all in all, not a bad window. But all eyes now turn to today’s dealings and whether or not Doug King will fund any more big signings or be forced to consider offers for key players.

Will it be a frantic final day with a flurry of activity or a calm and quiet affair? Here we take a look at what could happen.

Positions yet to be filled

Three positions stand out as arguably requiring attention to give Robins maximum strength in depth for the season. It’s been no secret that the club have been in the market for a dynamic central midfielder with proven quality to come in and hit the ground running and supplement the outstanding quality of Ben Sheaf.

Robins is also short of a marauding right-back to provide competition and back-up for Milan van Ewijk, who is currently the only recognised full-back on that side. Joel Latibeaudiere can fill in, as he has done on occasions, but he’s a centre-half by trade.

Players who could be subject to late bids

Ben Sheaf is the standout player who has been the subject of on-going speculation linking him with interest from the likes of Fulham, Ipswich and Luton and it remains to be seen if any club will make a move for the former Arsenal man and Sky Blues skipper. Certainly, it would take a significant fee for City to even entertain a deal so late in the window, with little chance of finding a replacement at such short notice.

Milan van Ewijk has been the subject of speculation in his native Netherlands, with PSV Eindhoven reported to be keen, while Ellis Simms and Haji Wright will always attract admirers after netting 19 goals a piece last season. But, again, it’s far too late in the day to be selling the family silver and any advances for any of the above are likely to be firmly rebuffed.

Who could be let go or loaned

Breaking on Thursday evening, news emerged that Hull City have been in talks with the Sky Blues over a deadlien day move for Kasey Palmer, with a three-year-deal understod to have been offered to the 27-year-old playmaker.

Meanwhile, one player who has slipped out of the reckoning in recent weeks is Fabio Tavares. Although the striker made impressive cameos at the tail end of last season, not least an outstanding contribution against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, the arrivals of Brandon Thomas-Asante and Norman Bassette appear to have bumped him down the pecking order.

Asked if Tavares, who has missed out of the last three matchday squads, will be heading out on loan or otherwise, Robins was unclear, saying on Tuesday night: “I don’t think so; I can’t talk to you about it.”

The only other senior who could be moving on is goalkeeper Brad Collins. Although the manager has claimed he’s happy to carry three experienced stoppers, that was said with the caveat of depending on how they react to being left out. Collins appears to have been overtaken by Ben Wilson in the pecking order, with the former Sunderland man having been back-up to first choice Oliver Dovin so far in the league and being picked for both Carabao Cup games to date.

It’s expected that City will listen to offers for Collins, who only joined from Barnsley last summer, but it remains to be seen if he’ll have any takers.

Meanwhile, senior development players Ryan Howley and Jack Burroughs have already gone out on season-long loans to Ayr United and Kilmarnock, respectively, but the manager says young striker Justin Obikwu – who impressed in pre-season – won’t be following them, not least due to the fact that he’s currently out injured.