Coventry City will be hoping for a more successful 2024/25 league campaign after failing to build on a 2022/23 play-off finish last season under long-serving boss Mark Robins.
The Sky Blues finished ninth in the Championship last time around, and Robins set about making changes to his squad in May as veteran defender Liam Kelly, keeper Simon Moore and youngster Dermi Lusala were all released upon the expiry of their contracts.
Dynamic attacking midfielder Callum O’Hare was offered a new deal at the end of the season, but refused and has instead joined Sheffield United, while striker Matty Godden has left the club for Charlton Athletic for a figure that could rise to £400,000.
Robins has been busy in terms of incomings, with Jack Rudoni, Oliver Dovin and Raphael Borges Rodrigues arriving from Huddersfield Town, Swedish side Hammarby and Australian outfit Macarthur respectively, while centre-back Luis Binks has made last season’s loan move from Bologna permanent for around £2m.
Coventry still have work to do before now and the end of the transfer window, but will hope to get some business done prior to their opening game of the season away to Stoke City on August 10.
With that in mind, Football League World takes a look at two signings that the Sky Blues should try to make to bolster their squad before they travel to the Potteries.
Tommy Conway
Scotland international Tommy Conway looks set to be on his way out of Bristol City this summer, and while his next destination is unknown, Coventry should definitely be in for his signature to add firepower to their attack.
The 21-year-old has been a key asset to Nigel Pearson and Liam Manning’s squads since his breakthrough at the beginning of the 2022-23 season, but his time at Ashton Gate looks likely to come to an end amid his reluctance to sign a new deal, and he has reportedly been put up for sale in this transfer window, with the Robins wanting him to depart for a decent sum rather than leave for a small compensation fee next summer when his contract expires.
He has been forced to train away from Manning’s squad with the U21s in pre-season but the Robins’ head coach has said that “nothing is done as of yet” regarding his departure, despite work going on behind the scenes to secure a move.
Conway is a quick, dynamic striker who netted 12 goals in 43 games in all competitions in 2023-24, and he is not set to be short of suitors this summer, with Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers both reportedly interested in securing his services, while Wolves and Leicester City are among the Premier League clubs who have kept a constant check on his development, according to Bristol Live.
| Tommy Conway 2023/24 statistics | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 39 |
| Starts | 27 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Shots on target % | 47.9% |
| Successful take on % | 40% |
| Shot-creating actions | 1.97 |
| League games only, stats as per sofascore & fbref | |
A move to the top flight seems unlikely just yet, but a second-tier team with play-off potential like Coventry would be perfect for Conway to continue his development, while also adding a different option to Mark Robins’ forward line alongside the likes of Haji Wright and Ellis Simms.
After Matty Godden’s departure, the Sky Blues only have Wright, Simms and Fabio Tavares as their current striking options, but the former was largely used off the left wing last season, and the latter has made just 21 league appearances in the last three seasons, so there is certainly the need for another new number nine like Conway.
He seems like a realistic transfer for Coventry. City will want to be well compensated but his contract situation means the Sky Blues could strike a favourable deal to add the striking depth and potential Simms/Wright succession plan that they need.
Joe Worrall
Nottingham Forest club captain Joe Worrall faces an uncertain future at the City Ground with an exit likely this summer and Coventry must persist with the 27-year-old to bring him in to bolster the heart of their defence.
Worrall has made 226 appearances for Forest since joining at age 14 but looks set to see his 13-year association with the club end this summer after largely being used as a bit-part player since he played a key role in their 2022 promotion to the Premier League, and was subsequently loaned out to Besiktas last season.
Coventry were first linked with a move for the former England youth international by journalist Alan Nixon in June and were reportedly clear to speak to him about a potential move but wanted a loan deal which did not work for Forest at that moment in time, according to Nixon.
Coventry Live have since backed up the claims that City did speak to Worrall, but that their interest had cooled after wages appeared to be an issue, alongside the conundrum around the type of deal that each club wants.
Boss Robins has spoken about the need to add leadership to his squad after the likes of Kelly and Godden left earlier in the summer, and someone like Worrall would bring bags of experience and quality to his backline for the new campaign.
Robins currently has Liam Kitching, Luis Binks, and Bobby Thomas on the books at the heart of his defence, as well as Joel Latibeaudiere so he will surely want to add another player to that position in the coming weeks before his side travel to the Potteries.
If Coventry can reach an agreement with Forest for Worrall prior to August 10, it would be the ideal addition to their side and could be the key to helping push them back into the play-off places for 2024/25.
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