Coventry City will be focusing on the summer transfer window as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of returning to the Premier League under Frank Lampard
14:45, 30 May 2026
Coventry manager Frank Lampard celebrates
Frank Lampard will give his current Coventry players a chance to prove themselves in the Premier League(Image: Getty Images)
Coventry City are still basking in the glory of their promotion to the Premier League after a dominant Championship season under Frank Lampard. The Sky Blues ended the campaign 11 points clear of second-placed Ipswich Town.
Cov fans will soon discover their fixtures for the 2026/27 campaign which kicks off on August 22. The long-awaited announcement on who Coventry will face first is to be revealed on June 19.
And Lampard has promised that the players who helped his side earn promotion to the Premier League deserve their chance to show what they can do in English football's top flight. After being named the League Managers Association's manager of the year on Tuesday night, the former Chelsea midfielder had his say on his current squad.
He said: "We haven't got Premier League minutes in our team. We've got a couple of boys that played, who got 30 appearances or whatever," Lampard said in his acceptance speech on Tuesday night.
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"The reality is that these boys have deserved a chance because of the hard work that they did. Sometimes I think it's not being humble, it's actually just acknowledging and crediting the players, who want to get to the Premier League," added Lampard
"So, we go for it, right? You have to understand what they did. The accomplishment has been amazing from the players because they are the ones who go and do it."
Coventry's squad will need strengthening, however, and attention will soon turn towards the summer transfer window, which opens on June 15.
City will turn midfielder Frank Onyeka's loan from Brentford into a permanent move on July 1 after he initially joined the club on loan in February. A further update will be provided in the coming weeks once the window opens.
Frank Onyeka of Coventry City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Derby County at The Coventry Building Society Arena on April 03, 2026 in Coventry, England.
Frank Onyeka is set to be the first permanent name in the door(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
One name being linked is Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri. Teamtalk claim the Sky Blues are among the clubs keeping a close eye on his situation and would welcome the opportunity to bring him in on loan should the Gunners become open to that route.
Other interested parties reportedly include Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Everton. It is said that the trio have shown interest in Nwaneri, with the three Premier League sides primarily exploring a permanent deal.
It is also claimed that ambitious Serie A side Como will use the lure of Champions League football next season to try and sign him.
Meanwhile, City striker Norman Bassette is reportedly attracting transfer interest in Belgium as he returns to his parent club following a year out on loan.
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard gives instructions to Norman Bassette
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard gives instructions to Norman Bassette last season
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The 21-year-old joined Coventry on a four-year deal from Caen in the summer of 2024 and featured 29 times in his debut season as the Sky Blues reached the Championship play-offs.
But he was let out on loan last season, to Reims in France's Ligue 2 in the first half and then to Kaiserslautern in the German second division in the second. He scored twice and set up another two in 16 appearances in Bundesliga 2 as Kaiserslautern finished sixth.
Now the young Belgium international is apparently a wanted man back home. Foot Mercato claims he has suitors in Standard Liege, Sint-Truiden and KVC Westerlo. It remains to be seen if he would go on loan or permanent, with a suggestion in the spring that Coventry were asking too high a price.