Coventry City will look to build on a solid season after missing out on a play-off spot in the Championship this year but making it all the way to an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Callum O’Hare’s future is one of the most important issues to settle this summer, and the Sky Blues will probably want to acquire some new players to help them in their quest for a play-off spot.
The Premier League is full of youthful talent, and many of them are looking for first-team minutes to get experience. Coventry may be able to take advantage of this in the next transfer window. Here, FLW examines three elite-level prospects the Sky Blues may consider to enhance their roster.
The youthful Chelsea defender attended Cobham from the U11 age group and has only recently joined the senior squad this year, albeit he has yet to log many playing minutes. The west London team is in intense competition, and past transfer windows have shown that a new, valuable player might arrive at Stamford Bridge at any time to fill any position.
The most likely venue for Alfie Gilchrist to get regular playing time away from his parent team is on a season-long loan at CBS Arena. He can play as a center-back in a more conventional back four or as a member of a back three, as Mark Robins did against Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal. played in the league primarily by Robins. There is a void in the Sky Blues’ defense following the return of loanee Luis Binks to home club Bologna.
Furthermore, he has spent the majority of his Chelsea first team time at right back. This flexibility is always helpful for a squad, but if there are changes at Coventry, it might be highlighted more. The present right-back Milan van Ewijk has had an amazing season, and in the unlikely event that the Dutchman needs to go, Gilchrist might be a good fill-in.
Gilchrist has gained enough experience at Stamford Bridge to handle an eager CBS Arena, and it says volumes that he has managed to break into Chelsea’s first team despite significant investment. The 20-year-old might benefit by signing a loan deal. O’Hare’s contract dispute may soon come to an end, which means he may soon have to make room in the Coventry midfield for an attacking player. George Earthy is a Premier League rookie who may fill that need for a season.
The West Ham United academy product has only ever played for the Hammers. This season, he made brief appearances against Freiburg, Fulham, and Luton Town to experience senior football for the first time. He’s scored a goal in just 27 first-team minutes, so it’s been a fruitful start.
Given that the former star player only made 16 appearances in the Championship this season, it should have come as no surprise to hear that club captain Liam Kelly will be leaving the team when his contract expires this summer.
That may be less than a previous regular would want to appear, but a role still needs to be played, and Kelly’s void needs to be filled. Tim Iroegbunam is a young player in the Premier League who has the potential to be up to the challenge.
