‘Could have legs’ – Our verdict on every Coventry City transfer link ahead of the summer window

It’s that time of the year when Coventry City fans are eagerly awaiting news on new signings while anxiously hoping to keep hold of the club’s star players.

The Twittersphere and social media is awash with reports and rumours of interest as silly season kicks in good and proper ahead of what’s expected to be a huge summer for the Sky Blues in the transfer window.

Mark Robins has already secured his first signing with the arrival of Jay Dasilva on a free from Bristol City, the 25-year-old left wing-back adding proven quality in a position that has been desperate for attacking flair and competition since the departure of Ian Maatsen a year ago.

And with so many holes left following the return of five loan players – Luke McNally, Callum Doyle, Jonathan Panzo, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Josh Wilson-Esbrand – to their parents clubs, and release of six seniors – Michael Rose, Fankaty Dabo, Tyler Walker, Sean Maguire, Martyn Waghorn and Todd Kane – at the end of their contracts, the club will need to recruit between 10-15 fresh faces to help rebuild the squad.

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Here we take a look at every name, every player linked with the Sky Blues so far.

Morgan Fox, Stoke City.

City were first linked with interest in the Potters’ defender in March. Out of contract at the bet365 Stadium in the summer, the 29-year-old’s form has been rewarded with a call up to Robert Page’s Wales squad. A versatile left-back, Fox has been a steady, no-nonsense left-sided defender in the Championship over the last few seasons.

His reputation is still primarily as a left-back but he has been useful on the left of a back three and hasn’t looked amiss as a centre-half in a back four when needed.

Verdict: Robins is looking for a left-sided centre-back and his versatility may appeal. However, his age goes against City’s general business model of signing young development talent.

Lewis Wing, Wycombe Wanderers.

City were linked with interest in the former Middlesbrough midfielder in March, the player having rejuvenated his career with Wycombe Wanderers. A versatile player who can play in a holding role as well as higher up the pitch, the 27-year-old was a firm regular for the Chairboys this season, scoring eight goals to help the club to the brink of the play-off positions.

According to Football League World, the Sky Blues are one of six clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, Preston North End and Reading, who have been monitoring the player who started his career at Boro, enjoying four-and-a-half years but only spent two-and-a-half campaigns as a mainstay at the Riverside Stadium. Currently under contract at Adams Park, he would command a transfer fee.

Verdict: If Gus Hamer is sold this summer City will definitely be in the market for a quality midfielder. There’s also uncertainty surrounding Liam Kelly’s future, with the club waiting to hear if the skipper will accept a new deal. Although older than City’s normal recruitment policy, the Championship requires proven experience.

Ali Al-Hamadi, AFC Wimbledon.

City were first linked with interest in the young striker in April, the player having burst into the spotlight with a rush of goals in League Two.

The Sky Blues are reported to have watched AFC Wimbledon forward who is also claimed to have been scouted by a host of other clubs including Brentford, Brighton, Burnley, Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield Wednesday.

The link is all the stronger for the fact that City recently headhunted Dons’ scout Jamie Johnson to join the club’s recruitment department, working under recently appointed Dean Austin.

The 21-year-old Iraq international started out at Tranmere Rovers before switching to Swansea City’s Academy at the age of 18, going on to join Wycombe Wanderers, during which time he had a loan spell at non-league Bromley. He was signed by the Dons, who are managed by former Sky Blues loan star Johnnie Jackson, in January and has made an eye-catching start to his career by scoring 11 goals in 14 games.

Al-Hamadi signed a two and a half year deal with the Dons, contracting him to the club until the summer of 2025.

Verdict: Given the first hand link to City’s new-look recruitment department, this one could well have legs. He’s the right age and fits the club’s development model perfectly. The Sky Blues need strikers, with Matty Godden the only senior front man left if Viktor Gyokeres is sold this summer.

Luther James-Wildin, Stevenage.

The highly-rated 25-year-old has been at Stevenage since the summer of 2018 after joining for a nominal fee from City’s non-league neighbours Nuneaton Borough, and has consistently proved his worth to the club over five seasons in North Herts. So much so that the right-back was linked with Arsenal during the 2019 close season.

Although nothing came of that, the defender has continued to earn admirers from higher divisions and he’s available on a free transfer this summer.

Verdict: Might be a bit of a gamble given the jump in divisions but City are no strangers to taking players capable of developing. City need at lest two players for the right wing-back slots following the departures of Dabo, Kane and Norton-Cuffy.

Terrance Vancootten, Stevenage.

A 6ft 4 ins tall centre-back, the Guyana international has earned rave reviews at the League One club. The 25-year-old is described as quick and brings the ball out comfortably from defence.

Verdict: City are in the market for centre-backs but, like teammate James-Wildin, would be a gamble. But he has all the raw attributes and might well flourish under the expert coaching of Adi Viveash.

Jerry Yates, Blackpool.

City are claimed to be one of five clubs keen on proven striker Jerry Yates. That’s according to The Sun who reckon the 26-year-old will be a wanted man this summer following the Tangerines relegation back to League One.

Blackpool endured a difficult campaign, which saw them part company with two managers en-route to a 23rd place finish and a return to the third tier after just a couple of seasons. However, Yates was once again a bright spot with his 15 goals, 14 in the league, confirming him as his team’s key player.

Verdict: City are desperate for more goals and in the market for at least two, probably three new strikers, assuming Gyokeres leaves this summer. That being the case, Coventry would have the financial clout to compete for the £4m-rated front man who is contracted to Bloomfield Road until 2024.

Lee Buchanan, Werder Bremen.

Coventry City are reportedly trying to sign former Derby County defender who they were strongly linked with last summer when the left-back was embroiled in a contract dispute with the Rams, who were in administration at the time. Buchanan, though, ended up making a surprise move to German side Werder Bremen.

The 22-year-old made 23 appearances for the Bundesliga side in all competitions this season – but only two league starts. Now, according to The Sun, he is “unsettled” in Germany, and Coventry “fancy trying” to bring him back to England this summer.

Verdict: He’s a good age and perfect to develop under Adi Viveash’s coaching. However, having already signed Jay Dasilva, it remains to be seen if City will be in the market for another player in that position. A lot may depend on the club’s feelings towards Jake Bidwell who, you may recall, was lined up for a move to Birmingham in January had the Sky Blues been successful in signing Dasilva in the mid-term window.

Morgan Whittaker, Swansea City.

The Sky Blues have been linked with the 22-year-old forward along with Rangers, Plymouth Argyle and Sunderland according to transfer specialist Pete O’Rourke. Whittaker joined the Swans for £700,000 from Derby County in January 2021and still has two years to run on his contract, and he may well be keen to see who the next manager is before making any decision on his future.

He spent the first half of last term on loan at Plymouth, scoring nine goals in 25 League One appearances, but has been mainly used as a impact sub from the bench since his return to his parent club at the turn of the year.

Verdict: Fits City’s development model but how strong the interest is remains to be seen.

Tom O’Connor, Wrexham.

The highly-rated midfielder is attracting plenty of Championship interest after a terrific season at newly promoted non-league glamour club Wrexham. The 24-year-old may well have first come to the Sky Blues’ attention in January when he gave Phil Parkinson’s side a 3-0 lead with a goal on the stroke of half-time at the CBS Arena when the National League outfit humiliated Mark Robins’ men with a 4-3 victory to knock them out of the third round of the FA Cup.

The Welsh club are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney who helped bankroll Wrexham into the fourth tier of the Football League with a memorable title win before sending their stars to celebrate in Las Vegas.

Now they are preparing for an ambitious assault on the League Two title after bookies installed them as favourites. But Championship clubs including Coventry, reports the Mirror, are tracking the ex-Southampton prospect.

Verdict: City could well be in the market for a goal-getting midfielder but it’s a big jump for the player, albeit he’s a decent age and still got plenty of development ahead of him.

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