Luton Town in battle with Ipswich and Fulham for “Minimum of £20m” Coventry star

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

After a fine season for Coventry City, Ben Sheaf is attracting plenty of transfer interest heading into the summer window.

With Gus Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres having been sold for big fees last summer, the Englishman looks as though he could be next in line for a big deal away from the CBS Arena.

This comes after some great form in the Championship, but particularly some excellent performances against the likes of Wolves and Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, in which Sheaf more than held his own and showcased his talent to a national audience.

Now, with Coventry having failed to reach the play-offs, and therefore not getting a shot at promotion to the Premier League, the pressure could be on the Sky Blues to keep hold of their midfielder.

Clubs linked with Ben Sheaf

Three clubs have been linked with Sheaf so far this summer, two of which will be playing their football in the Premier League next season.

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, both Fulham and Ipswich are interested in Sheaf heading into the summer.

Nixon claims that Ipswich Town are looking to bolster their squad after winning promotion to the top-flight, and that Fulham’s chief scout recently watched Sheaf, although does stress he is one of several being considered at the West London club.

Interestingly, Luton Town were also linked, regardless of which division they would have been playing in. Mathematically, they are not yet relegated from the Premier League, but must overturn a three point deficit and a huge goal swing in order to survive, which looks nigh on impossible.

Nixon claims that Coventry’s asking price for Sheaf will be in the £10 million range.

Coventry City fan pundit discusses Sheaf valuation

With the above in mind, we wanted to get the thoughts and feelings of Coventry City supporters regarding the Sheaf news.

To offer us an insight into this, we spoke to FLW’s Coventry City fan pundit Neil Littewood, asking him what price Coventry need to be putting on Sheaf this summer.

Neil’s valuation is certainly more than the previous Nixon report suggested the Sky Blues will demand, but his reasons for that valuation are certainly valid.

“Ben Sheaf – for me, he’s the best central midfielder in the Championship,” Neil explained to FLW.

“Especially as a number eight, he controls the game, he’s happy to take the ball in tight situations, play a pass. He’s shown against Wolves and he’s shown against Man United that he is a Premier League player in all but name.

“I think he needs to learn from what has happened with Gus Hamer and pick his move quite carefully. With all due respect to Luton and Ipswich, I think they could be teams that could potentially be in trouble next year, and I don’t think Sheaf needs to be involved in that.

“Fulham could be a great move for him because I think they play some lovely stuff. But, he’s got two years left on his deal, he’s club captain now Kelly’s gone, pivotal to how we play, English. [His value]. He’s got to start with a two. It’s got to be a minimum of £20 million.

“[Mark] Robins and [Doug] King have both come out and said they don’t want Coventry to be seen as a stepping stone anymore, and that we don’t need to sell. If that’s the case, they need to set their stall out early doors with this ine and say, you know, you want a player of his quality, you need to pay us the money that we think he is worth.”

Neil went on to add that he would not begrudge Sheaf a big move this summer, providing that the Sky Blues get an appropriate deal for his signature and that he doesn’t make a sidewards step.

“Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t begrudge Sheaf from moving on,” Neil added. “He’s been phenomenal for us since since he first came. First name on the team sheet, comfortably. But I just hope that, if he does go, he makes the right move.

“We’ve seen Hamer go to Sheffield United and be a side that’s struggled and done quite well, which might earn hm another move, who knows. But, the last thing I’d want is Sheaf to make a sidewards move into the Premiership where the club is going to come down, or to like a top half Championship side.

“I heard rumours that he’d been looked at by German clubs. You know what, if he got the opportunity to go and play European football, no one’s gonna stand in his way.

“So yeah, i’ll be intrigued to see what happens there.

“I just hope that the club back up their words and demand that he has to go for at least £20 million. I know Adam Wharton’s a few years younger, that went to palace for £25 million in January, I think that was a little but inflated because it was a January signing, but I think they’re on a par. I genuinely think they’re on a par.

“Morton has youth on his side, but I think Sheaf’s as good, if not better. So, you need to be looking at that sort of money.”

It will certainly be interesting to see what sort of fee the Sky Blues do demand should those aforementioned clubs, or others, come knocking this summer.

Judging by Neil’s comments, Sky Blues supporters certainly wouldn’t begrudge Sheaf a big move this summer, provided that he makes a big step up and that Coventry receive a healthy fee for his services.