Ipswich Town take £15m stance to sign star man amid Coventry City voice out interest in deal

Coventry City had a disappointing end to the Championship campaign, as they suffered four defeats in their final five games, with QPR clinching a 2-1 win in the last game of the season.

The Sky Blues made a stuttering start to this season, but as they did in 2022/23, Mark Robins’ men soon picked up the pace and put themselves in top six contention.

However, their slow start to this season in the end cost them, as Coventry fell short of a play-off place by nine points.

The summer is a chance for the team to regroup and for Robins to strengthen his squad but like last summer, it seems the Sky Blues have players on their books that have caught the attention of the opposition, most notably midfielder Ben Sheaf, as teams start to circle.

Ipswich Town are among the sides keen on Coventry’s Ben Sheaf

Sheaf has been with Coventry City permanently since the summer of 2021, having spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan with the Sky Blues from Arsenal.

The 26-year-old was on the books at Arsenal from 2014, as he joined the Gunners as a young teenager from West Ham United.

The midfielder struggled to breakthrough at Arsenal, but his loan with Doncaster Rovers soon put him on the map, and that was when his career got going.

His importance has grown across his four seasons with Coventry and this term he has taken the mantle of being arguably the club’s most important player after the departures of Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres.

Sheaf has lived up to that, and he is now a player that looks to be very much wanted this summer.

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon account, Coventry missing out on promotion has meant Sheaf has teams circling with interest.

The report states that Ipswich Town, Luton Town, and Fulham have all expressed interest in the 26-year-old heading into the summer.

Nixon also adds that Sheaf turned down the chance to join the Hatters during the last transfer window, but that hasn’t stopped them from pursuing a move once again. Luton’s Premier League status, whether it continues or not, is said to have no effect on a deal happening for Sheaf but would help them given that Ipswich and Fulham will be in the top flight next season.

Nixon also states that Fulham’s interest in the midfielder is just an option for them; he isn’t considered a priority at this stage.

Coventry must take a £15m stance on Ben Sheaf amid Ipswich interest

This isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last, that a Coventry player has caught the eye of Premier League teams.

The Sky Blues have impressed in recent seasons and that has meant teams have been watching from afar to keep an eye on their best players.

It is no different for Sheaf but just as they have with other players, Coventry need to take a firm stance on the midfielder. They will want him to stay at the club and given he has a contract that runs until summer 2026, they are in a strong position.

Money talks but the Sky Blues midfielder has established himself as one of the best players at his position in the Championship in recent years – a fact illustrated by his performances in 2023/24 – and his club must ensure they are properly compensated should he depart.

Coventry sold Hamer to Sheffield United last summer for £15 million and the Sky Blues should be looking for that sort of fee to let Sheaf leave.

The pair are different players in terms of what they offer on the pitch but Sheaf has taken his game to a new level this season, and given his contract situation, it makes sense for the club to hold out for a similar price tag once again.

Coventry are in a strong negotiating position and the Premier League clubs interested have money to spend so the Sky Blues should be holding out for at least £15 million before they sell their key man.