Ben Sheaf seems a likely departure for Coventry City, so at FLW we are taking a look at three possible replacements that could be signed.
Coventry City were unlucky to miss out on the play-offs as their FA Cup success coincided with a dip in form late on in the Championship season.
Next year will therefore see another attempt from Mark Robins’ side to push themselves closer to the promised land of the Premier League, but they will likely have to do it without one man.
Ben Sheaf has been a stalwart in the Sky Blues midfield for four years now, accruing over 140 appearances for the club. Once an Arsenal prospect, he has developed his game superbly under Robins, but it now feels that it could be his time to move on.
According to Alan Nixon, recently relegated Luton Town are preparing a £10 million bid for Sheaf, with Ipswich Town and Fulham also interested in obtaining his services.
For Coventry fans this news will be a bitter pill to swallow, but who could replace Sheaf in their side next season?
At Football League World, we have decided to look at three possible options and how they would fit in the Sky Blues squad.
Krystian Bielik
Birmingham City’s recent relegation to the third tier of English football may provide a host of sides with potential bargains in the coming window. Krystian Bielik is certainly one of those and, despite signing just last summer, he represents a player who is far too good for League One.
An 11-cap international, Bielik played alongside Sheaf in the Arsenal youth teams and this may be a factor Coventry can use to sign him.
Able to play either centre-back or defensive midfield, he shares many of his natural qualities with Sheaf. When comparing him to other midfielders, he ranks high in the majority of defensive statistics and could provide that sternness in midfield that Coventry would be missing.
Whilst his attacking and possession-based output is dwarfed by Sheaf’s, mentoring from a class act in Robins could only see this improved.
At 26 years old, Bielik is a player who is just entering his prime and if able to stay injury-free, this is a transfer that makes sense for all parties.
| Player | Ben Sheaf | Krystian Bielik |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 31 | 36 |
| Interceptions per 90 | 1.46 | 1.78 |
| Recoveries per 90 | 7.61 | 7.62 |
| Aerial duels won per 90 | 0.73 | 2.83 |
| Successful Passes per 90 | 53.7 | 39.9 |
| Accurate Long Balls per 90 | 3.13 | 3.25 |
Tyler Morton
A more youthful player Coventry could take a look at is Liverpool’s Tyler Morton. At 21 years of age, the youngster is seen as a future star at Liverpool and another loan to a top-end Championship club could be the way forward.
His past two seasons at Hull City and Blackburn Rovers have been filled with promise as he looks to display his ability to the Merseyside club’s hierarchy.
Featuring at the base of Liam Rosenior’s midfield alongside Jean Michel Seri, Morton has been brilliant at dictating the tempo of games. A player of this ilk is often required to get promoted out of the Championship and can be seen this season through the likes of Harry Winks at Leicester or Flynn Downes at Southampton.
Whilst, defensively, he doesn’t compare to Sheaf, the likes of Victor Torp and Josh Eccles could do the dogged work to support the 21-year-old. This would provide him with the freedom to dominate the game through his passing range, which statistically is higher than Sheaf’s, as per FBREF.
Having signed a long-term contract in January 2023, Liverpool clearly see a future for their young star and therefore a loan move makes sense.
For Coventry fans, it may not be the permanent signing they would hope for, but Morton’s quality is developing year-on-year, and he could be a strong addition.
Bosun Lawal
A man who is attracting a large amount of interest from Championship clubs is Celtic’s Bosun Lawal. According to reports, Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth, and Derby County are all eyeing a possible loan move for Lawal, who is 21 years old.
Having signed for Celtic from Watford, he spent the previous season at Fleetwood Town, who were sadly relegated to League Two following a torrid campaign. However, during this time, Lawal was brilliant and highlighted just how good a player he could be in the future.
Accruing over 3000 minutes across 42 league appearances, the Irishman managed to score six goals and provided two assists across the league campaign. A strong, dynamic midfielder, he balances his protection of the defence with lung-busting runs through midfield to get his side up the pitch.
Albeit in League One, statistically, he outperforms Sheaf in the majority of defensive categories and shows a decent enough eye for a pass.
At just 21 years old, making a move for Lawal can be considered a risk with inconsistencies rife at this age. But, should the Sky Blues try hard enough, they may be able to lure the youngster to the West Midlands and could either sign him permanently or on loan for the season.
Additionally, he could command a higher fee in the future and this move would make sense both on and off the pitch.
Leave a Reply