Coventry City are in the market for a striker this summer as they prepare for their first season back in the Championship.
It looks likely that Matty Godden will lead the line for Mark Robins’ side – but the City boss will be keen to introduce some friendly competition for the man who scored 15 goals last season.
And back up will be needed for if Godden suffers yet another injury lay-off, just like he did towards the end of 2019.
Robins has Amadou Bakayoko and Max Biamou at his disposal but the pair have no Championship experience.
So what options do the Sky Blues have in the free agent market this summer, with so many clubs releasing their stars due to the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis?
Here are five players that Coventry could land for free right now…
Nouha Dicko
The former Wolves man is now a free agent after being named on Hull City’s released list on June 30.
The French-born forward, still only 28 years young, scored four goals in the Dutch Eredivisie last term for Vitesse while on loan at the KCOM Stadium.
A known man to head of recruitment Chris Badlan, who once operated at Molineux, Dicko hit 31 goals in the Championship across three seasons in ‘old gold.
But is now in search of a club for the 2020/21 campaign.
Borja Baston
Former Swansea City striker Borja Baston is in search of a new club after failing to make the grade at Aston Villa.
The 27-year-old, who started his career at Atletico Madrid, made only two appearances for the Villans last season after arriving on a free transfer in January.
Previous seasons have seen him hit 22 goals for Zaragoza in La Liga as well as six in the Championship for Swansea in 2019-20 before he left the club to help resolve the club’s rising wage bill.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy
Young forward Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is another Aston Villa player, like Callum O’Hare, who has has been released this summer.
Chief Executive, Christian Purslow, said back in February that a 21-year-old playing for his club’s under-23s had probably not progressed fast enough – and Hepburn-Murphy could well have been in his mind when he said that.
But during a loan spell with Tranmere Rovers last term the Birmingham-born forward did impress, enough to earn him a move to Derby County for the second half of the campaign.
Sam Winnall
Sheffield Wednesday striker Sam Winnall is in search of a new club for next season after being released by boss Garry Monk.
Formerly of Wolves, Winnall made double figures for Barnsley in the Championship before earning a move to Wednesday in 2017.
But after falling out of favour at Hillsborough, and after a brief spell with Derby County, the forward will be keen for a fresh start this summer.
Omar Bogle
It didn’t quite work out for Omar Bogle at Cardiff City, but the forward will be desperate for another shot at the Championship.
(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)
The Hinckley United youth player made a name for himself at Grimsby Town where he scored 32 goals in just 68 games, earning him a move to the second division with Wigan Athletic.
But the forward managed just three goals in 13 games before leaving for Cardiff City just six months later in a move later revealed to be worth £700,000.
His time in Wales has seen him loaned out three times, including an impressive spell at Portsmouth, but now he is free to a good home.
