It feels like a slow going summer so far for Coventry City fans eager to hear concrete news of fresh signings ahead of the club’s big return to the Premier League.
Frank Lampard is this week putting his existing squad members through their paces out in Spain in the Sky Blues second week of pre-season. Most of the squad reported back for duty last week when they underwent fitness testing at Coventry University before beginning a bit of ball work at Ryton.
Here Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner answers some of the questions on supporters’ minds.
Why haven’t City made any signings yet?
Although in an ideal world Frank Lampard would like new signings in as soon as possible, and certainly for any training camp which is the perfect time to get to know the other players and bond, it’s still relatively early in the transfer window.
Very few clubs are doing much business at the minute and the World Cup is obviously not helping the process with many players having been involved and then, when out of the competition, going on their delayed summer holidays before reporting back for pre-season.
It’s also worth pointing out that many transfers are rarely straight-forward. City are shopping in a very different market now and players they are after will have plenty of options and wage levels to consider. Some may need convincing to join a newly-promoted club rather than more established top flight outfit.
Can fans be confident City will be bringing in what they need to be competitive next season?
The biggest signal of intent for the club this summer was Frank Lampard putting pen to paper on a new contract. Let’s face it, he wouldn’t have committed himself to Coventry if he hadn’t been given assurances by Doug King that he will have the backing to bring in new players to make City a competitive squad next season.
The Sky Blues have been linked with several exciting names and most of it has come from speculation and reports from abroad. We have to remember that a lot of rumours will have been started by agents touting their clients about.
It is also worth noting that Dean Austin and his recruitment staff will have spread their net far and wide, making inquiries about the availability of lots of different players at many different clubs.
Frank Lampard has signed a new contract to commit his future to Coventry City
Frank Lampard has signed a new contract to commit his future to Coventry City
What’s happening with the on-going pursuit of Carl Rushworth?
This is understandably becoming the source of much frustration and some fans are even getting to the stage where they think it’s time for City to move on to other targets.
Sky Sports reported earlier this week that a second bid for the 24-year-old goalkeeper had been rejected by Brighton, who are widely held to have knocked back an initial offer of £20million.
But what we do know is that although City have been linked with Everton understudy Mark Travers and Olympiacos’ Greek international Konstantinos Tzolakis, Rushworth remains very much their top target and, CoventryLive understands, continue in on-going dialogue with Albion.
Givemesport claim that the Sky Blues are preparing “one final offer” for the player’s services as the deal appears to have hit a bit of a frustrating stage, with Brighton seemingly playing hard ball on the fee.
But what is very much in City’s favour is the fact that Rushworth is keen to join and is determined to be a number one in the top flight next season, and not a second or third choice. As it stands, Albion have Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele ahead of him.
My gut feeling is that we just need to stay calm and be patient, confident that Lampard will eventually get his man.
Carl Rushworth of Coventry City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Portsmouth at The Coventry Building Society Arena
Coventry City continue to pursue Carl Rushworth(Image: Getty)
What can we say with confidence about any new signings?
Swiss international Aurele Amenda is the only other player that we can say with any confidence is set to join the Sky Blues. The 22-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back is reported by several well-informed and trusted sources in Germany to be heading to the CBS Arena this summer.
The player is currently out at the World Cup with his country, and while he’s yet to feature in any of the games, his dominant figure could be seen celebrating on the pitch after Switzerland’s penalty shootout win over Columbia on Tuesday night saw them through to the quarter-finals, when they will face Messi’s Argentina.
Coventry City transfer target Aurele Amenda (right) of Eintracht Frankfurt in action against Cody Gakpo of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26
Coventry City transfer target Aurele Amenda (right) of Eintracht Frankfurt in action against Cody Gakpo of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26
What positions are the priority?
Aside from the obvious (a new goalkeeper), Lampard is clearly in the market for defenders. The club have been linked with a number of centre-backs and Amenda ticks the big, strong and physical box. But, ideally, they will need a quick one as well, someone like Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan or Wolfsburg’s Greek defender Konstantinos Koulierakis.
A new left-back to compete with Jay Dasilva is also surely on the cards, while the midfield is also an area that arguably requires a bit of guile and experience with the likes of Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Villa’s Ross Barkley and Goztepe midfielder Anthony Dennis among the names linked with City interest.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark also require hot competition on the wings. It remains to be seen whether January signing Jahnoah Markelo can step up at this stage of his development but, given that he was barely used in his first few months at the club, it would suggest not.
The club have been strongly linked with 22-year-old Brazilian left winger Matheus Martins from Botafogo.
Coventry City have been strongly linked with interest in Matheus Martins of Botafogo
Coventry City have been strongly linked with interest in Matheus Martins of Botafogo
Finally, there’s clearly a need for goals up top and City continue to be linked with Lois Openda. According to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport, City continue to pursue their interest in the 26-year-old Belgian striker who had a disappointing first season at Juventus after signing from RB Leipzig on loan but with an obligation to buy for a reported €40million.
It is claimed in the Italian press that Coventry are said to have made several enquiries to Juventus for Openda and “could make a move,” with Juve claimed to be ready to accept a loan with an option to buy.
Who’s likely to go out this summer?
It all depends on who comes in, of course, but if City sign a couple of centre-backs then Luke Woolfenden is the most likely to free up room, while Joel Latibeaudiere may also find game time hard to come by next season.
The same applies to left-backs Miguel Brau, who really needs to go out to get first team football after being unable to establish himself at City, while Jake Bidwell is also likely to be limited in terms of minutes in the Prem. Having said that, his outstanding character will be a real asset to the squad.
I can see loan spells for the likes of Markelo and possible sales of Raphael and Norman Bassette. And if a new striker comes in then there would clearly be room for one of last season’s main men to generate funds, with Ellis Simms perhaps the most obvious candidate.
Frank Onyeka and Jack Rudoni at Coventry City's training camp in Spain
Frank Onyeka and Jack Rudoni at Coventry City's training camp in Spain
Who’s out in Spain on the pre-season training camp?
Every one of the senior squad aside from Haji Wright and Brandon Thomas-Asante who are having a bit of down time following their disappointing time at the World Cup where neither got many match minutes for their respective countries.
The good news is that those who travelled to Marbella include Jack Rudoni who appears to be recovering really well from his late season shoulder surgery and is hopefully on course to be available for the start of the season.
The travelling party includes Norman Bassette, despite on-going links with a move to Standard Liege, as well as returning loan players Kai Andrews, Callum Perry and Raphael. Lampard has also taken a couple of development players, with defender Tristen Batanwi and goalkeeper Eliot Meredith included.
There are also four other goalkeepers with fit-again Oliver Dovin, Ben Wilson, Oscar Varney and Luke Bell.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto at Coventry City's training camp in Spain
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto at Coventry City's training camp in Spain
What’s the plan for the training camp?
It’s a week of intensive training combining fitness, gym work and pitch time which is expected to conclude with a behind-closed-doors friendly at the weekend before City’s return to Ryton to prepare for their first official pre-season friendly against Northampton Town on Saturday, July 18 (2pm).
The players have had a bit of down time with a couple of golf sessions.
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Coventry City writer Andy Turner
Coventry City writer Andy Turner
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