FACT OR FICTION?
MEN WHO HAVE BEEN LINKED WITH A MOVE TO THE SKY BLUES
SILLY season is officially upon us with not a day passing without Coventry City being linked to a host of players from the length and breadth of the country, and at least one from abroad.
We know the latter is true because Sky Blues chief executive Dave Boddy let slip to supporters recently that a potential new signing from mainland Europe was a guest of the club at the Bournemouth game, during which he was shown around the CBS Arena – a huge selling point for the Championship outfit.
That set hares racing with suggestions coming in thick and fast as to who fans thought the mystery man might be, some claiming to have seen him in the flesh while others believing they were in the know.
Social media, meanwhile, is another animal entirely. The Twittersphere has been awash with links to players which has served to pique the interest of the Sky Blue Army who are desperate to discover who Mark Robins has got lined up.
Much of it comes from ill-informed accounts that raise their ugly heads twice a year, in the January and summer transfer windows, all claiming to have the inside track on City’s recruitment plans from ‘sources’ close to the player or club in question.
The transfer window doesn’t actually open until June 10 but we’ve already had a stack of links to players from the spurious to the downright ridiculous – I give you Ross Barkley! Here we take a look at who has been credited with interest from the Sky Blues so far and try to sort the waffle from the chaff.
MATT PHILLIPS, WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The Athletic reported in April that the 31-year-old winger is set to be available for transfer this summer, resulting in one prolific transfer twitter
account linking the player with interest from the Sky Blues. Apart from the obvious and rather crucial fact that Mark Robins doesn’t play with wingers, there is no truth in the rumour what-so-ever.
ROBBIE MCKENZIE, GILLINGHAM
The 23-year-old attacking rightback is reported to have attracted interest from Coventry, Plymouth and Accrington Stanley by the same transfer account that linked City with Phillips, after rejecting a new deal. Being a young player who has done relatively well for the Gills despite their relegation to League Two this season, it would not be beyond the realms of possibility that he will be known by City’s recruitment department who will have files on all promising young players from the lower divisions. Players like that fit the club’s model and may well have been on their wider radar. Gillingham boss Neil Harris says Mckenzie will be the subject of interest, reports Kentonline, however, he’s not understood to be heading to the CBS Arena.
IZZY BROWN, PRESTON NORTH END
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has been released by the Championship club after joining Deepdale last summer but not playing a single game last season after rupturing his Achilles shortly after joining the club on a one-year deal.
A former Chelsea development squad player, there’s an obvious link to Coventry, having worked with assistant manager Adi Viveash when he was younger and therefore it’s likely that his name would have cropped up as a possible consideration in the past.
However, given his injury history, Brown having suffered a cruciate knee ligament rupture in 2018, and fact that he has not hit the required standard at Preston after returning to fitness, we can safely rule him out.
MATS KNOESTER, HERACLES ALMELO
The 23-year-old Dutch Under-19 international was one of the names offered as the mystery visitor to the CBS Arena last month. City are in the market for a centre-half this summer with the return of Jake Clarke-salter to parent club Chelsea. Robins is keen on a permanent move for Clarke-salter, assuming he’s available on a free transfer, but he’s reported to have plenty of options. Knoester would appear to fit City’s model, being a good age and performing in the top division in the Netherlands. However, rumours of interest in him are understood to be wide of the mark.
HARRY MCKIRDY, SWINDON
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder is one of the hottest players in League Two, having taken his season’s goal tally to an outstanding 24 with a brace in Town’s 2-1 play-off semi-final first leg against Port Vale on Sunday. A versatile and hard working player who can play as a striker or CAM, Mckirdy is the type of player who would appear to be ideal for the Sky Blues who are actively seeking another goal scorer who can add strength and competition in the final third. The fans’ favourite put pen to paper on a new deal at the County Ground in January and would therefore not come cheap. However, I understand he is not a City target this summer.
Ayoub Assal could come into consideration should the club’s financial circumstances change.
AYOUB ASSAL, AFC WIMBLEDON
The 20-year-old Moroccan attacking midfielder fits the profile. He’s young with plenty of potential and development in him. He featured in 49 games for the League One club this season, scoring ten goals. But again, under contract for another two seasons, Assal would cost a fair bit of money and would therefore be unlikely at a time when money is tight. But he will be a player City’s recruitment department will be aware of, that’s for sure, and could come into consideration should the club’s financial circumstances change i.e. a windfall from the sale of one of the club’s big three.