How Coventry City’s early transfer business compares to their Championship rivals

Coventry City have two new signings over the line and are said to have a third in the pipeline as summer transfer business is expected to intensify now that the window is officially open.

The Sky Blues have shopped abroad, with 20-year-old Raphael Borges Rodrigues joining on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Macarthur in Australia. This is in addition to left winger Ephron Mason-Clark, who was signed from Peterborough in January and then sent back on loan, while New Zealand international Marko Stamenic is claimed in the Serbian media to join from Red Star Belgrade.

A quick look up and down the division in the first weekend after the window officially opened shows most clubs are still waiting for their first deal, let alone two or three in the bag.

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Stoke also brought in two, with goalkeeper Viktor Johansson joining from Rotherham United after the Potters triggered a relegation release clause believed to be just under £1million. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the Championship’s leading goalkeepers over the past two years and ends a long wait for the Potters to have a number of their own, relying heavily on the loan market.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Ben Gibson joins from Norwich, who he helped to the play-off places in the season just ended. The left-footed centre-back is a free agent after reaching the end of his contract at Carrow Road.

Business has been slow in other parts of the country, with only one other Championship club recording two receipts so far.

Oxford United, promoted from League One, have also brought in two signings so far. Goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge, 20, has signed from West Ham, while midfielder Will Vaulks, 30, rejected a deal offer at Sheffield Wednesday to sign a “long-term contract” under Des Buckingham.

“I can’t say too much,” Vaulks told BBC Sheffield. “The only thing I can say is that Oxford has shown massive ambition. They have a structure, a budget they are allowed to spend and a manager and head of recruitment who want to get things done.

“I haven’t felt it since Wednesday, but I’m not going to be bitter about it. I can’t go into too much detail about it, but rest assured, I’m not greedy or anything, it’s just that sometimes you need to feel wanted and that you’re going to be a part of something moving forward.”

Middlesbrough have completed a permanent loan deal for Luke Ayling, with the 32-year-old centre-back signing a two-year deal. They also signed 25-year-old striker Delano Burgzorg from Mainz for an undisclosed fee. Burgzorg spent last season on loan at Huddersfield Town, scoring seven times as they were relegated.

Boro boss Michael Carrick said: “(Burgzorg is) a threat and will be a real asset because he has different types of attributes to what we already have. He’s a good addition to the squad and the fact he can get things going early means he’ll be here for the start of pre-season.”

Norwich City have 23-year-old Levski Sofia left-back centre-back Jose Cordoba, a Panama international, to replace Gibson. It’s an undisclosed fee that Pink Un suggests is “likely to be the biggest transfer fee of the summer”.

QPR have also ventured Down Under to sign Daniel Bennie from Perth Glory. Bennie is an 18-year-old born in Hong Kong who has represented Australia at youth level.

Sheffield Wednesday have signed goalkeeper Ben Hamer, 36, from Watford and complete a rare cross-city deal for Sheffield United left-back Max Lowe, who is a free agent.

League One champions Portsmouth have dipped back into the third tier to sign right-back Jordan Williams, 24, from Barnsley on a free transfer. Blackburn Rovers have brought in left winger Aodhan Doherty from Linfield for an undisclosed fee.

Nathanael Ogbeta is the first signing for Wayne Rooney at Plymouth Argyle. The 23-year-old left-back had been released by Swansea after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bolton.

Corey Blackett-Taylor officially joins Derby County. The 26-year-old winger signed on loan from Charlton in January, with a clause to make the move permanent in the summer. He made 12 appearances, including five starts, for Paul Warne as they sealed promotion from League One, setting up a single goal.

And Mamadou Doumbia will become a Watford player on July 1. The 18-year-old striker has been signed from Black Stars FC, who have just been relegated from the Mali Premier Division, on a five-year deal.

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