Antoine Bernede features: 2 Coventry City deals that will push August 30th transfer deadline
Coventry City might need to play the waiting game in order to land one of the players they have been linked with so far during the summer transfer window, whilst there could also be a late departure if the right offer comes in.
The Sky Blues have brought in four new signings so far this summer. Jack Rudoni has signed from Huddersfield Town, Raphael Borges Rodrigues has arrived from Macarthur, Luis Binks has had his loan move from Bologna made permanent, and a new goalkeeper has arrived in the form of Oliver Dovin from Hammarby.
Highly-rated midfielder Callum O’Hare has left the CBS Arena to join Sheffield United on a free transfer, and City boss Mark Robins will hope that Rudoni can turn out to be the right man to replace the 26-year-old.
Coventry will need to make further additions to their squad if they are going to bridge the gap to the top six next season, after finishing ninth in the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, alongside reaching the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Robins may need to be patient in order to sign one of the players that Coventry have been linked with so far this summer, as he continues to shape his squad ahead of another competitive season in the second tier.
Antoine Bernede
Coventry are interested in signing former PSG midfielder Antoine Bernede from Swiss side Lausanne-Sport, according to a report from 4-4-2.ch.
The 25-year-old joined Red Bull Salzburg from the French giants in 2019. He left Austria to sign for Lausanne-Sport on loan in January 2023, before the move was made permanent last summer. As per the report, Coventry have expressed their interest in the player to his representatives, but are yet to make an official approach to the club.
It is not a huge surprise to see that the Sky Blues are in the market for another option in the middle of the park, following the departure of veteran Liam Kelly, who joined League One side Rotherham United on a free transfer after making 180 appearances during his seven-year spell at Coventry. However, their pursuit of Bernede may not be straightforward.
Bernede himself turned down a move to Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre earlier in the summer, and it has also been reported that Lausanne-Sport intend to keep the midfielder at the club ahead of next season.
With two years remaining on Bernede’s contract and Lausanne-Sport not desperate to sell him, if Coventry are going to secure his signature this summer, negotiations could go on until nearer the end of the transfer window.
Ben Sheaf
Midfielder Ben Sheaf has been a key performer for the Sky Blues since his arrival from Arsenal in 2020.
The 26-year-old’s positional awareness, technical prowess and ability to hold onto the ball under pressure have contributed to him being one of the best Championship players in his position during the last couple of seasons.
He was attracting interest from Luton Town, Ipswich Town and Fulham at the start of the summer, with a potential fee in the region of £10 million needed to be even considered by Mark Robins and co – as reported by The Sun.
As things stand, he is still a Coventry player, but there may yet be renewed interest in someone who many would back to be more than capable of making the step-up into the Premier League.
Sheaf reportedly turned down an opportunity to join Luton during the January transfer window, but if a Premier League club that is not under the immediate threat of relegation makes an offer, it will be interesting to see what happens.
Fulham sold Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich this summer, so they are likely to be in the market for another option in the middle of the pitch this summer.
Whilst Robins will not want to lose one of his most important players, as the transfer deadline gets closer, top flight clubs will be more likely to be tempted into making an offer for Sheaf that Coventry cannot refuse.
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