Coventry City’s transfer window ‘option’ among five potential Peterborough United targets

Coventry City’s summer recruitment searches are underway, leaving Sky Blues fans eager to find out who Mark Robins will follow to bolster his impressive squad core.

Four senior players have left the club so far, with Liam Kelly and Simon Moore moving on after reaching the end of their contracts and Callum O’Hare expected to follow on a free transfer despite being offered a new deal . Luis Binks is the fourth, with the on-loan defender returning to his parent club Bologna, although the 22-year-old is keen to return to England to continue his career with Robins admitting “… he’s someone we want to keep in touch with. and see how things go,” suggesting the club could try to sign him permanently.

While everyone else is under contract, don’t be surprised if a few more players leave the club in the next few months; players such as, for example, Matty Godden, who experienced limited game time in the second half of the campaign and was heavily linked with interest from League One side Charlton Athletic. Then there’s goalkeeper Ben Wilson, who was restricted to just 18 Championship starts having been City’s standout stopper last season. It would not be a surprise if the 31-year-old wanted a move to get more regular first-team football, along with the fact that there is a case for a new goalkeeper to come in to compete with Brad Collins.

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Other positions that seem obvious for addition include left-back, which could raise questions over the future of Jake Bidwell, despite the defender being a consistent performer and hugely popular with supporters. Elsewhere, although Ben Sheaf has two years left on his current contract, the former Arsenal prospect will be a wanted man this summer and City will be desperate to keep hold of him. Whatever happens, with Kelly leaving as manager, there will be a need for at least one more midfielder, and Adi Viveash has indicated that the team could do with a right-back to compete with favorite Tatsuhiro Sakamoto.

City owner Doug King said this week “… we’re where we are right now, believe me,” when asked about the club’s dealings in the summer transfer window. Of course, the club have already made an exciting new signing for next season in Peterborough United left winger Ephron Mason-Clark. At the time, it emerged that his deal had been completed in January, with the Sky Blues having designs on two more Posh players, as Cambridgeshire club owner Darragh MacAnthony revealed.

On his podcast, The Hard Truth, the outspoken president offered fascinating insight into the negotiation process between himself and city owner Doug King’s “relentless” pursuit of Mason-Clark. The 47-year-old Irish entrepreneur said: “Doug has asked for an option on one of my other players as well because they like a lot of our players.”

So who could Dean Austin and his recruiting department be after? Here we take a look at League One’s hottest players who could suit up for Mark Robins’ evolving side.

Harrison Burrows, 22, left back/left midfielder

The EFL League One Player of the Season came through Peterborough’s Academy, Burrows has made 58 appearances this season and played over 150 first-team games, including 36 in the Championship in 2021/22. Described as a natural midfielder whose defensive work at left-back starts quickly, he is good going forward and an accurate passer, although he is not the quickest on the ground. He is, however, a wonderful center of the ball and has provided 12 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.

Although his contract runs out in the summer, Posh have an option for another year and fully expect to trigger that, meaning he will cost money.

Archie Collins, 24, midfielder

Signed from Exeter last summer for an undisclosed fee, Collins made 57 appearances for the Posh, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Described during his time at Exeter as “a versatile player who can play up front, just behind the striker, on the right, left or in central midfield”, he has since settled into a more permanent role in the middle of the park at London Road. . Collins is more of a busier midfield operator, an excellent reader of the game who clears the danger. He is a neat and orderly passer but has a long ball in the dressing room. They also do well on the field.

Contracted until 2026.

Hector Kyprianou, 22, defensive midfielder, can play centre-back, right-footed

A former Tottenham Academy prospect, Kyprianou joined Posh in the summer of 2022 from Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. He made 55 appearances and scored eight goals this season. He is 6ft 4in and tends to take the ball deep. He is very good at keeping possession under pressure and also gets to the edge of the penalty area for crosses. He’s a tall boy so useful at the fixing leg. He made his full debut in Cyprus last year as a centre-back and marked Erling Haaland.

Watford tried to sign him in the January window. He is contracted until 2025.

Ronnie Edwards, 21, centre-back

Signed in the summer of 2020 from Barnet for an undisclosed fee, Edwards has played 55 games this term and made 143 appearances in all competitions for Peterborough. A ball-playing defender, he is described as exceptional on the ball and is another whose defensive work has improved rebounding. Capped by England Under-20s, he would clearly suit City’s style.

Swansea tried to sign him last summer. Contracted until 2025.

Kwame Poku, 22, right winger, can also play on the left.

Poku joined from Colchester in 2021 and has scored 12 goals and eight assists in 49 games this season. The player has attracted a lot of interest in the league and is very talented and younger than Ephron Mason-Clark. An excellent dribbler, scores and creates goals and can play as a ten as well as a winger.

He is an international from Ghana and contracted until 2025.

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