Coventry City are aiming for a more successful 2024/25 league campaign after failing to build on their 2022/23 play-off finish last season under long-serving boss Mark Robins.
The Sky Blues finished ninth in the Championship last season, prompting Robins to make changes to his squad in May. Veteran defender Liam Kelly, goalkeeper Simon Moore, and youngster Dermi Lusala were all released when their contracts expired.
Dynamic attacking midfielder Callum O’Hare was offered a new deal at the end of the season but refused and instead joined Sheffield United. Meanwhile, striker Matty Godden left for Charlton Athletic in a deal that could rise to £400,000.
Robins has been active in bringing in new players, with Jack Rudoni, Oliver Dovin, and Raphael Borges Rodrigues arriving from Huddersfield Town, Swedish side Hammarby, and Australian club Macarthur, respectively. Additionally, center-back Luis Binks made his loan move from Bologna permanent for around £2 million.
Coventry still has work to do before the transfer window closes, but they hope to complete some signings before their opening game of the season against Stoke City on August 10.
With this in mind, Football League World suggests two signings that the Sky Blues should aim to make to strengthen their squad before traveling to the Potteries.
Tommy Conway
Scotland international Tommy Conway appears poised to leave Bristol City this summer. While his next destination remains uncertain, Coventry City should pursue his signature to bolster their attack.
The 21-year-old has been a significant asset for Nigel Pearson and Liam Manning since his breakthrough at the start of the 2022-23 season. However, his time at Ashton Gate seems to be nearing an end as he is reluctant to sign a new contract. Consequently, Bristol City has reportedly put him up for sale during this transfer window to secure a decent sum rather than risk losing him for a minimal compensation fee next summer when his contract expires.
Conway has been training with the U21s instead of Manning’s squad during pre-season, but the Robins’ head coach has indicated that “nothing is done as of yet” regarding his departure, despite ongoing efforts to arrange a move.
Conway is a quick, dynamic striker who scored 12 goals in 43 games across all competitions in the 2023-24 season. He is not expected to lack suitors this summer, with Celtic and Rangers from Glasgow reportedly interested in him. Additionally, Premier League clubs like Wolves and Leicester City have been monitoring his progress, according to Bristol Live.
| Tommy Conway 2023/24 statistics | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 39 |
| Starts | 27 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Shots on target % | 47.9% |
| Successful take on % | 40% |
| Shot-creating actions | 1.97 |
| League games only, stats as per sofascore & fbref | |
A move to the top flight seems unlikely for Tommy Conway at this stage, but joining a second-tier team with play-off potential, like Coventry City, would be ideal for his development. He would provide a different attacking option for Mark Robins, complementing forwards Haji Wright and Ellis Simms.
Following Matty Godden’s departure, Coventry’s striking options are currently limited to Wright, Simms, and Fabio Tavares. Wright was primarily used as a left-winger last season, and Tavares has only made 21 league appearances over the past three seasons, highlighting the need for another number nine like Conway.
Conway appears to be a realistic target for Coventry. While Bristol City will seek adequate compensation, his contract situation could allow the Sky Blues to negotiate a favorable deal. This would add the necessary depth to their attack and potentially set up a succession plan for Simms and Wright.
Joe Worrall
Nottingham Forest club captain Joe Worrall is facing an uncertain future at the City Ground, with a summer exit likely. Coventry City should persist in their efforts to sign the 27-year-old to strengthen the heart of their defense.
Worrall, who has made 226 appearances for Forest since joining at age 14, seems set to end his 13-year association with the club. Despite playing a key role in their 2022 promotion to the Premier League, he has been used sparingly since and was loaned out to Besiktas last season.
Journalist Alan Nixon first linked Coventry with a move for the former England youth international in June. Although they were reportedly clear to discuss a potential transfer, Coventry’s preference for a loan deal did not align with Forest’s plans at that time. Coventry Live confirmed that talks took place but noted that interest cooled due to wage issues and the type of deal each club wanted.
Coventry manager Mark Robins has emphasized the need to add leadership to his squad following the departures of players like Kelly and Godden earlier in the summer. Worrall, with his experience and quality, would be an excellent addition to the backline for the new campaign.
Currently, Robins has Liam Kitching, Luis Binks, Bobby Thomas, and Joel Latibeaudiere in central defense. He will likely want to add another defender before Coventry’s opening game of the season against Stoke City.
Securing an agreement with Forest for Worrall before August 10 would be an ideal move for Coventry, potentially key to pushing them back into the play-off places for the 2024/25 season.