Coventry Telegraph

Exits may have SIX appeal for new owner

PLAYERS COULD BE OFF-LOADED TO FREE UP CASH FOR JANUARY SIGNINGS

- By ANDY TURNER Sky Blues Reporter JULIEN DACOSTA

COVENTRY City have three weeks in which to rest their weary limbs, after which they resume their Championsh­ip campaign at Reading’s Madejski Stadium.

When they do that, Christmas will be just a fortnight away and the January sales only three weeks further on.

What the Sky Blues might do once the transfer window reopens is not yet known. Doug King’s prospectiv­e takeover should, in theory, mean an exciting January window for City fans when Mark Robins is expected to be looking to strengthen rather than worry about who he might lose.

King has already stated none of the team’s bigger hitters will be sold, and indicated that he’s keen on a promotion push this season. That would suggest a new left wing-back, possibly a new centre-half and perhaps a new striker to help out amid the current injury concerns, not least to Matty

Godden who is not expected to be back fit until February.

New ownership, however, doesn’t mean just throwing money at the squad and King will no doubt be looking to off-load here and there to free up wages.

So who could be on their way this January? Eleven players currently face an uncertain future due to the fact that they are out of contract in the summer and, therefore, those aged 23 and older are able to start talking to other clubs in the final six months of their contracts.

Those out of contract at the end of the current season are Ben Wilson, Kyle Mcfadzean, Fankaty Dabo, Martyn Waghorn, Todd Kane, Tyler Walker, Liam Kelly, Michael Rose, Josh Eccles, Julien Dacosta and Marcel Hilssner.

Given their form and standing with the manager, it’s safe to assume Wilson, Mcfadzean, Rose and Eccles are going nowhere soon and are fully expected to be engaged in talks about new contracts. Hilssner, meanwhile, is recovering from an ACL injury.

Here we look at six players who might come into considerat­ion for a January switch.

TODD KANE

The former QPR wing-back was lined up for a move in the last transfer window but it didn’t happen in the end and he was brought back into Robins’ squad, albeit used extremely sparingly to date, having played just 126 minutes of football so far this term. The writing remains on the wall for the 29-year-old who has made just one start this season and been used as a late substitute on four occasions as Josh Eccles has been preferred to him in Fankaty Dabo’s absence with injury.

With Dabo due back for the post

World Cup restart, Kane will slip further down the pecking order and, assuming Robins manages to draft in a new left wing-back, is likely to be largely surplus to requiremen­t for the second half of the season, bar any further injuries.

TYLER WALKER

Although the door has opened for a bit more game-time than he might have expected had Godden stayed fit, Walker is on big wages as we saw last January when he was sent out on loan to Portsmouth to facilitate the signing of Jake Bidwell from Swansea City.

Out of contract in the summer when he is expected to leave on a free transfer, a January move might just be a way of City getting a modest fee while also significan­tly lightening the wage bill. But again, that will almost certainly be determined by whether or not Robins is successful in adding another frontline striker and, of course, keeping hold of Viktor Gyokeres.

However, from the player’s perspectiv­e, he’s unlikely to be keen on a move in January if it means taking a significan­t wage drop and may, therefore, opt to see out the remainder of his contract.

MARTYN WAGHORN

The experience­d striker comes into a similar category and has only featured in seven league games this term before being set back by injury. But Robins won’t leave himself short in numbers and any move will be determined by who he has fit and available in the same position.

The one thing with Waghorn is that, when fit – which he’s due to be for the resumption of the season – he is a particular­ly valuable player to step off the bench and help manage and see out games with his experience. If, meanwhile, Robins drafts in a new striker he could find himself slipping out of the reckoning and may want to move on to play more regularly elsewhere.

City have an option to recall the French wing-back in January but that would seem extremely unlikely given he’s only played nine times on loan for League One Shrewsbury, due to the fact that he got injured after his first eight appearance­s.

Assuming he gets himself fit before Christmas, he could be let go on a free transfer if the Shrews wanted to take him full-time but given his injury record so far it’s unlikely the third tier club would risk it.

ANALYSIS

LIAM KELLY

Although there is unlikely to be any pressure from the manager, the skipper could consider a move in January if he gets a really good offer from elsewhere.

Back fit after a frustratin­g first half

of the season, the central midfielder could prove an invaluable squad player during the second half of the campaign given his experience.

But given the quality of Ben Sheaf, Gus Hamer and Jamie Allen ahead of him, he’s unlikely to be guaranteed starts.

But having been such a good servant to the club from the days of League Two all the way back to the Championsh­ip, it’s more likely that he will stay and see out the remainder of his contract.

JOSH REID

The developmen­t squad left-back has been on the bench but not used yet this season as he continues to look to bridge the gap to the first team. And it might just be a good time, assuming he’s fit, to go out on loan in January to gain valuable senior experience.

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 ?? ?? From left, Tyler Walker, Martyn Waghorn, Julien Dacosta, Liam Kelly, Josh Reid and
From left, Tyler Walker, Martyn Waghorn, Julien Dacosta, Liam Kelly, Josh Reid and
 ?? ?? Todd Kane may be considered for a January switch
Todd Kane may be considered for a January switch
 ?? ?? Doug King
Doug King
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 ?? ?? Sky Blues boss Mark Robins
Sky Blues boss Mark Robins

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