Popular Coventry City man linked with ambitious League One clubs

Outgoing Coventry City player Fankaty Dabo has been linked with interest from League One clubs Derby County and Bolton Wanderers.

The 27-year-old wing-back is looking for a new club after being one of six senior squad members released by Mark Robins as they come to the end of their contracts at the club.

It’s understood that the Sky Blues had an option on Dabo’s deal to extend it for another 12 months but have opted not to trigger that. As such, he joins Tyler Walker, Michael Rose, Sean Maguire, Martyn Waghorn and Todd Kane in looking for a new club this summer – all available on free transfers.

Both Derby and Bolton, according to The Sun’s transfer specialist Alan Nixon, are interested in Dabo who has always been a popular figure with fans at the CBS Arena, particularly in his first season with the club when he caught the eye with some dazzling displays on the right flank and was a key player in City’s exciting, attacking style that got them promoted as League One champions in the curtailed 2019/20 campaign.

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Although the former Chelsea prospect managed just less than 30 league appearances in the following three Championship seasons – 28, 29 and 29 – he was still highly regarded by his manager who said earlier this season that there are few wing-backs better than him in the division.

However, niggly injuries and form meant he often struggled to get a run of games going and, more latterly, Arsenal loan player Brooke Norton-Cuffy became first choice and Dabo more of an impact sub from the bench.

But he was involved until the last, going on as a late substitute to help see out City’s play-off semi-final win at Middlesbrough before featuring in the final when he went on at the end of 90 minutes, performing during extra-time and, sadly, being the player to miss in the sudden death penalty shootout which resulted in Luton being promoted rather than Coventry.

A move to either Derby or Bolton, both of whom have ambitions of gaining promotion to the second tier, would appear perfect for the player who has plenty of experience at both levels now. The Rams narrowly missed out on the play-offs on the last day of the season this time around but Wanderers finished fifth, only to be beaten by Barnsley over two legs in the play-off semi-finals.

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