**Newcastle United will be watching the Championship promotion race with a keen eye as interest in one of Coventry’s biggest stars grows.**
The Sky Blues are on the verge of promotion to the Premier League for the first time since they dropped out in 2001. Frank Lampard’s side has a healthy lead at the top of the table and it’s a case of when and not if they clinch promotion.
The Magpies, however, may be hoping for selfish reasons that Coventry fluff their lines purely because it will make things easier for them in the summer.
Reports suggest that Newcastle remain [keen on 24-year-old midfielder Jack Rudoni](https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2025/07/09/newcastle-set-to-target-best-player-outside-the-premier-league-to-replace-longstaff/), who you’d imagine would cost a lot more to free from his current club if they are promoted to the top flight.
[Caught Offside](https://www.givemesport.com/exclusive-newcastle-scouts-watch-rudoni-rushworth-coventry/) claims Newcastle sent scouts to watch Coventry in action on Easter Monday to run the rule over Rudoni ahead of a potential summer swoop.
However, he wasn’t the only one that the Toon scouts were looking at as they were keen to see how Carl Rushworth did between the sticks for the Championship leaders.
On loan from Brighton, Rushworth has been very impressive this season, and Newcastle, who are desperate to find a new No. 1, are keen to see if the 24-year-old has what it takes to be a first-choice stopper in the Premier League.
Newcastle are already considering Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen as a successor to Nick Pope, so it’s interesting that they also have Rushworth in their sights. Would Rushworth take over as Brighton’s first choice if Newcastle opt for Verbruggen? Or would Brighton try to push Newcastle one way or the other to keep the one they prefer at the club?
Newcastle have been tracking Rudoni for a while and have been linked with a move for the midfielder several times, so we definitely believe there’s some truth in this one.
Given our need for a new goalkeeper, it’s not hard to believe that we’re looking at Rushworth too.
Our issue is that neither of these moves will be easy to pull off. Rudoni may want to stick with Coventry to help them in the Premier League, while Brighton will have been impressed with what Rushworth has done this season and may look to move him up the pecking order.
**Rumour rating**: 6/10 – Believable, but tricky to pull off on both counts with Coventry heading for promotion and Brighton likely to use Rushworth should Verbruggen leave.