Coventry City players are now enjoying a hard-earned rest after a hectic start to pre-season – but the Sky Blues’ recruitment team are still hard at work at Ryton-on-Dunsmore.
With transfers the talk of the town, Coventry City writer Tom Leach has taken your questions.
Q: Who are the striker targets this summer? I feel like we really need goals!
TL: Mark Robins and his head of recruitment, Chris Badlan, will have striker targets to work through this summer. I have seen some names mentioned but few that I believe to be genuine. The kind of striker Robins will target is an interesting debate. The linked forwards we know of so far have been youthful, players like Renat Dadashov.
There has also been Kayden Jackson, there seems to be at least some interest there. I notice fans are keen to sign experience, but if you are hoping the club land a 20+ goal striker for next season then you made need a reality check, sadly.
Only three players scored more than 20 goals in the Championship in 2019-20. That was Grabban, Mirotvic and Watkins. All three are worth well over £10m in today’s market. That money isn’t available to Coventry City.
From a personal standpoint, I believe Godden is our best chance for goals next season but I do expect us to land players to offer him competition.
On Chris Martin, I’ve heard nothing to suggest he is on his way and, as I’m sure you understand, the club themselves have no reason to tell me every single player they cast their eye over.
With twitter pages like EFL Zone and Football League HUB on the go every day, I’d be a busy boy if I ran every single name through them.
But on landing 20 goal season striker at this level, I think some people need to keep their feet on the ground. Robins is a miracle worker but some things take more than miracles.
Q: What happened with Zain Westbrooke? I rated him highly.
TL: Firstly, let’s not forget Zain’s goal started it all last season. He helped us to get off to a flying start and played a huge part last term and for that, we owe him a big thank you.
As far as I understand it, Westbrooke wanted game time and it became clear that he wasn’t going to get that at Coventry. Tommy Widdrington knows him well from his time as City’s head of recruitment and the pair helped get the move done.
If Robins was not prepared to guarantee Westbrooke game time then I am happy for Zain. He waited a long old time during the early stage of his career for a first-team chance. He finally got his chance at Coventry and now has a taste for regular game time.
They’ve done some solid deals at Bristol Rovers, they’ll be competitive next term in my eyes.
Not sure what we got for Zain, the price will remain undisclosed but it will have only been a nominal fee, I would imagine.
Q: Are we still interested in that striker from Wolves [Renat Dadshov]?
TL: I reported yesterday that the interest in Dadashov is over, that has come from his end of things it seems.
The line is that the two clubs were unable to agree, very unspecific but that’s that.
These things happen, far more than most fans realise, and clubs will often make enquiries to dozens of players and the two or three you hear about seem like “failed moves” – not often the case.
With this one, however, it does seem as if there were at least some talks and negotiations but according to a source close to the player, it is no longer on.
Wolves are keen though to find him a club, I’m told.
Q: Do you think any more players will leave, after Zain?
TL: I cast my mind back to MK Dons away last term when Hiwula missed that penalty, that one.
Robins was pretty vocal at FT that Bakayoko would have to improve to stay with the club. I have to say, he did improve and was very good against Rangers I thought.
But I do wonder about Bakayoko and Max Biamou.
I have heard nothing to suggest that any of the current crop will leave, besides some talk of Mason making an exit in January but that never came to fruition.
Q: What about Kastaneer?
TL: Kastaneer another one. As I said, have heard nothing to suggest any stars will be leaving this summer but we all know how low our budget is next term, the lowest in the division says Robins, so it is likely that we would need to shake high earners such as the names mentioned to accommodate new arrivals.
Q: Have you heard anything about Owen Otasowie, Tom?
TL: This is one that I missed surface as I was on holiday, but looked into it yesterday. He seems a tidy player and, as we know, we are close to Wolves thanks to Chris Badlan who worked there once upon a time.
Wolves also have an incredible amount of young players, I used to cover Wolves back in the day myself and they keep their academy player really close to their training base as Compton.
Players like Otasowie often train with first-team players and Nuno and his coaching staff are regularly at the indoor pitch speaking to them.
It was part of Nuno’s arrival that he asked the young players to be relocated to Compton.
We’ll see how the Otasowie story develops over the coming days.
Q: Could we still lose Michael Rose to Leeds?
TL: No, we will keep him. He will not be back from injury until September. That should see us keep him until at least January (if the winter window remains in then, of course.)
Q: I’ve seen Jack Butland is linked on Twitter, do we even need to ask you about that?
TL: No, you don’t! Marko Marosi is better anyway.
Q: Is Jonathan Panzo still a target?
TL: Reports in Germany today suggesting that there are a few clubs over there keen on him. If I am honest, I would imagine Monaco have had calls from just about every corner of the globe asking about his services.
It does seem they want him away. The reports of Coventry’s interest came from a supposed enquiry about his availability and if a loan move would be possible.
(Image: 2019 Getty Images)
We’re in an attractive league now, especially for young players who want Premier League moves.
Look at Ben White, Dan James and many other over the year who have shown what they’re about in the Championship and will now have long Premier League careers.
Q: What about Ben Sheaf?
TL: The Sheaf deal, if it happens, looks like a permanent move for a six-figure fee, according to Alan Nixon at the Sun, who knows his stuff.
Robins knows a fair bit about Donny players, he was also linked with the vacant managerial vacancy there once so there must be a link.
Based on what I hear from Donny, Sheaf is better suited in defensive midfield than in defence.
I know Gary McSheffrey rates him very highly. Says he is a really nice lad, easy to work with and some player. Mark Robins values that highly, as we know.
