Coventry City are starting a busy summer with a lot of work to accomplish.
The Sky Blues finished the season on a positive note, qualifying for the Championship play-offs but losing at the semi-final stage to the squad that went on to win promotion to the Premier League. So it’s been a bittersweet season to reflect on, but the fact that the team finished fifth in the division gives reason to be optimistic for next season.
Doug King has clear aspirations, and since taking over the club, he has seen it reach the play-offs twice in three years, meeting his desire for three out of five promotion pushes. And, considering the improvements achieved under Frank Lampard, confidence and expectations will be high as he enters his first major transfer window ahead of his first full season in command, with a chance to make his imprint at the CBS Arena.
It all begins with recruitment. The head coach has revealed his retained list, with Jamie Allen remaining as the lone out-of-contract senior after the club exercised an option to extend the midfielder’s contract by another year.
Here, we take a look at the remainder of Lampard’s mainly inherited team, identifying areas that need to be strengthened and where there may be potential to do some business with contracted players.
Goalkeepers: New faces needed.
Oliver Dovin’s long-term injury pushed City to look for another custodian this summer. Brad Collins’ form is another source of concern in a position that can support two keepers nine times out of ten, but has recently seen the club use three keepers. As it stands, Ben Wilson is the man in possession, having reclaimed his place in the team at the end of the season, but there is a case for Lampard to go out and sign an experienced custodian to bring true competition to what was a difficult position last season.
A season-long loan could be the answer, considering that Dovin is scheduled to be out until at least the new year, but if Collins leaves, the club will almost surely try to sign a new permanent number one. Meanwhile, youngster Luke Bell is highly thought of, but whether he’s ready to provide third-choice backup at this stage of his career remains to be seen, and another loan is likely to be on the cards for the 21-year-old.
Center-backs: Areas for Improvement City surrendered 58 goals, one fewer in 2023-24 and tenth best in the division, indicating lots of opportunity for improvement. The season was marred at times by individual errors, and that’s not all down to the back four and goalkeepers, but Lampard may well believe the centre-back position is one that demands development in terms of a forceful and aggressive leader. That being the case, it’s reasonable to presume that at least one would have to make room for any new signing.
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