“Always difficult” Carlton Palmer problems Coventry City transfer request
Coventry City boosted their squad by selling their two greatest players during the summer season, but they may not be any better off.
Coventry has had one of the most difficult transfer windows of any Championship club, and despite some solid acquisitions, there are questions about their recruitment at this level.
For a long time, it was assumed that Viktor Gyokeres would leave the Midlands club, and when he moved to Sporting Lisbon, the club realized that Gustavo Hamer would also leave, with Sheffield United being his preferred destination.
With 11 incomings and outgoings, their squad is at a similar level in terms of numbers to last season – but Carlton Palmer has expressed questions about whether the Sky Blues are stronger than where they left last season.
What has Carlton Palmer said regarding the transfer window at Coventry City?
Carlton Palmer believes that, while City have recruited successfully, they aren’t necessarily better than they were at the end of last season. He spoke exclusively to Football League World about this.
“This was always going to be a difficult window for Mark Robins and Coventry City,” he added.
“They knew they’d lose Viktor Gyokeres, and they lost Gus to Sheffield United at the end.” I believe they have a good opportunity, but I don’t believe they are as powerful as they were last season when they reached the Championship play-off final.
Outgoings brought in £37.3 million with 13 players leaving, and 14 players joined to Coventry for a total sum of £30 million – generating a profit with players such as Ellis Simms, Haji Wright, Liam Kitching, and Bobby Thomas.
“It’s reflected in their current league position – they’re 14th.”
Why is Coventry City not as strong as they were last season?
Not only have the losses of Gyokeres and Hamer made the Sky Blues objectively weaker; they had some outstanding loan players in their ranks last season, and with those players departing for other Championship sides, it has not only made Coventry weaker, but it has strengthened other promotion contenders with their former stars, which is difficult to accept.
Luke McNally has joined Stoke City, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who was excellent given his young age, has signed Millwall, and Callum Doyle has returned to the Midlands, albeit on a temporary basis, to join rivals Leicester City.
Furthermore, Gyokeres and Hamer were two players who could seize the game by the scruff of the neck and create something from nothing, as seen in the play-offs with Hamer’s two goals at the crucial stage, and Gyokeres’ campaign-high 20 goals.
Haji Wright appears to be one of those players, but while Ellis Simms is a decent striker at his young age, the former Everton star isn’t nearly as refined as the Swede in his overall game just yet, which will damage the CBS Arena’s midfield duty.
There will be optimism that Yasin Ayari, on loan from Brighton, can repeat Hamer’s productivity, though it may be unfair to base their promotion ambitions on a 19-year-old midfielder so quickly.
