The Sky Blues have been relatively active in the summer transfer window but there are still a few gaps to fill as Mark Robins’ squad takes shape for the new season ahead
The new Championship season is just three weeks away and Coventry City fans have plenty of reasons to be excited.
Mark Robins’ side travel to the Bet365 Stadium for their first game of the season against Stoke, kicking off what is hoped to be another memorable campaign as the Sky Blues push for another crack at promotion via the play-offs. And while the anticipation builds for another top end Championship contest, City have a fresh backroom to support Robins’ safe hands.
The manager is actively looking for a new head coach to join his two summer additions – George Boateng and Rhys Carr – and fill the void left by Adi Viveash’s sudden and shock departure. On the playing side, there are still positions to fill as the club moves towards achieving their dream transfer window.
Pre-season friendlies
July 23: Stevenage v Coventry City, Lamex Stadium (7pm).
July 27: SV Darmstadt v Coventry City, Merck Stadium (1.30pm).
July 30: Coventry City v Everton, CBS Arena (7.45pm).
Aug 3: Coventry City v Werder Bremen, CBS Arena (3pm).
Aug 6: Coventry City v AS Roma, St George’s Park (behind-closed-doors, 5pm).
Transfers
City have spent just over £7million so far this summer – over £11m if you include the delayed January signing of Ephron Mason-Clark who cost the club £4.25m from Peterborough United. The club’s latest capture is Swedish goalkeeper Oliver Dovin, who has cost an initial £1.6m with add-ons, and the 22-year-old follows the arrivals of attacking midfielder Jack Rudoni (between £3.5m and £3.8m from Huddersfield), Australian winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues (undisclosed, Macarthur FC) and returning centre-half Luis Binks, who cost £1.7m from Bologna.
Departures
Liam Kelly (Rotherham), Simon Moore (Sunderland) and Callum O’Hare (Sheffield United) have left the club this summer upon the expiry of their contracts while striker Matty Godden has signed for League One Charlton Athletic for a fee that could rise to £400,000, subject to various add-ons.
The arrival of a new senior goalkeeper begs the question as to whether City will now look to off-load either Brad Collins or Ben Wilson, or go with three for the season.
Fortunately the Sky Blues appear to have replaced O’Hare with Rudoni. Although not necessarily a like-for-like replacement, with Rudoni seeing himself as a box-to-box number eight or higher up as a number ten, the fact is that he is a very forward thinking player who gets the ball up the pitch and operates most effectively in the final third, supplying the strikers and getting into the box to take chances and get goals himself.
The one big gap as things stands is a new striker to replace Godden and offer something different to the team’s big lads, Ellis Simms and Haji Wright. A quick fox in the box type might just fit the bill – someone in the mould of Fulham’s Jay Stansfield would appear ideal.
The 21-year-old is a hard-working ratter of a forward who is brilliant in the press and scored 12 goals during last season on loan at Birmingham City. And, although seemingly highly rated by Marco Silva, he’s been the subject of several enquiries from Championship clubs this summer and may well be let out on loan for a second season in the second tier.
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