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...
In what has been a turbulent season for Coventry City, the Sky Blues must be dreading the January transfer window coming, as it's another time for other clubs to try and pick off their star players.
City fans have already seen the much-loved figure of Mark Robins depart this season and be replaced by Frank Lampard, so seeing another star depart in January would be a crushing blow.
Unfortunately for Coventry though, their position in the football food chain means that their best players are always likely to move onto bigger and better things eventually, as they found out with Viktor Gyokeres, Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare fairly recently.
They'll be hoping they're not left with that familiar sinking feeling in January with rumoured interest in Norman Bassette from Newcastle United, whilst FLW recently revealed that Brighton & Hove Albion are also keeping tabs on the Belgium international.
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Lampard has taken charge of four games since he replaced Mark Robins
Norman Bassette rated as Coventry City's hottest young prospect
Norman Bassette for Coventry City
With Bassette gaining many plaudits at the CBS Arena since his summer arrival, we asked our FLW Coventry fan pundit Ryan Murphy who the most exciting talent at his club is, and his answer was unsurprising.
"Norman Bassette - there's a lot of excitement around him and Frank Lampard seems to trust him a lot at the moment considering, at the moment, he's keeping out the likes of Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante, who are two well-established Championship goalscorers," Ryan told Football League World.
"He's only managed to get one goal, but I don't think there's too much pressure on him at the minute to get the goals, it's more what he does for the team.
"He runs in behind and causes panic for the opposition by simply being a busy live wire."
However, Ryan is of the belief that despite Premier League interest in his services, Bassette would be best served by remaining in the Midlands.
"There's now rumours that Newcastle and Brighton are keeping tabs on him, so he's the most exciting young talent at the club," Ryan added.
"It's far too soon for him to be moving on, and I think he will learn a lot under Lampard and by getting as much game time as possible here.
"He can only get better and improve day-by-day, so he's definitely one to look out for and I think he could go to the top in a few years."
Keeping hold of Norman Bassette will be tricky for Coventry City
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After the success Viktor Gyokeres has gone on to have after leaving Coventry, the eyes of the footballing world will be on the man tasked with plugging the gap the Swede left behind.
Comparisons are already starting to be made between the two, and the hype around Bassette will make it increasingly difficult for Coventry to keep hold of him in the long term.
Norman Bassette's 2024/25 Coventry City Championship Stats (As Per Fotmob)
Appearances
Minutes played
Goals
xG
Shots
Shots on target
Assists
Stats Correct As Of December 19, 2024
If he can add the goalscoring to his game, then it only seems a matter of time before a top-flight club comes calling hoping for something similar to the Gyokeres success story.
In the meantime though, Coventry can enjoy Bassette while they've got him and feel safe in the knowledge that they're likely to turn a healthy profit on the Belgian frontman at some point in the future.