Coventry City are at the start of a busy summer with plenty of work to do. The Sky Blues ended the season on a relative high, having secured a place in the Championship play-offs, albeit

falling at the penultimate hurdle in the semi-finals to the team who went on to gain promotion to the Premier League. So there’s a bitter-sweet campaign on which to reflect, but the mere

fact that the club finished in fifth place in the division provides a source for real optimism ahead of next season. Doug King has clear ambitions and since taking charge he has seen the

club hit the play-offs twice in three years, keeping in line with his demand for three out of five promotion pushes. And given the progress made under Frank Lampard, confidence and

PUPIL AT COVENTRY CITY That all starts with recruitment. The head coach has made public his retained list, with Jamie Allen the only out of contract senior staying on board after the club

triggered an option of another year in the midfielder’s contract. Here we conduct a stock take on the rest of Lampard’s largely inherited squad, looking at areas that require strengthening

and where there may be opportunities for doing a bit of business with contracted players. GOALKEEPERS: FRESH FACE NEEDED Oliver Dovin’s long-term injury has forced City’s hand to a certain

extent this summer to go and get another goalkeeper. The form of Brad Collins is another concern in a position that can, nine seasons out of ten, cope with two but in recent years has seen

the club have three competing keepers. As it stands Ben Wilson is the man in possession, having regained his place in the team at the back end of the season, but there is an argument for

Lampard to go out and get an experienced keeper to add real competition to what was a troubled position last term. A season-long loan might be the answer, given that Dovin is expected to be

sidelined until the new year, at the very least, but if Collins is moved on then the club will almost certainly be looking to recruit a new permanent number one. Youngster Luke Bell,

meanwhile, is highly thought of but whether he’s ready to provide third choice back-up at this stage of his career remains to be seen and another loan is likely to be on the cards for the

21-year-old. CENTRE-BACKS: AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT City conceded 58 goals, one less than 2023-24 and the twelfth best in the division, which means there’s plenty of room for improvement. The

season was blighted at times by individual errors, and that’s not all down to the back four and goalkeepers, but Lampard may well feel the centre-back position is one that requires

improvement in terms of a dominant and aggressive leader. That being the case, it’s fair to assume that at least one would need to make way for any in-coming signing. Luis Binks made 21

starts and one sub appearance in the league in his first season as a permanent transfer, only ten of which came under the new head coach as Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching emerged as the

team’s first choice pairing for a second season running. Kitching, however, was a late starter to the campaign, playing just five league games before Christmas before re-establishing

himself. Meanwhile, Joel Latibeaudiere, like Binks, was in every Championship squad over the course of the campaign and made 33 appearances in the league. Lampard has spoken highly of the

player who has the added value of versatility, able to fill in at right-back and midfield, so that might be a clue as to who is likely to make way. FULL-BACKS: WILL LAMPARD FEEL THE NEED FOR

SPEED? Right-back continues to be a position that requires attention, with Milan van Ewijk starting all but one of City’s 46 league games. Although the Dutchman struggled to find consistent

form at times he’s highly rated by Lampard and continues to be linked with interest from higher-placed clubs. The 24-year-old is ambitious and, given the right club and right fee, he might

be one that the club decides to cash in on. Whatever happens, City need competition from two battling it out on that side. As for the left-back slot, although Jake Bidwell was handed a new

contract extension just over a month into Lampard’s tenure, Jay Dasilva emerged as the head coach’s first choice as the season went on. It will be interesting to see whether the City boss

continues with the two or seeks to bring in someone new. He is keen to add speed to his team and this position is one that certainly gives food for thought this summer. CENTRAL MIDFIELD:

SOLID FOUNDATIONS, DEPTH AND ROOM TO WHEEL AND DEAL First things first, the signing of Matt Grimes in January was a masterstroke by City’s recruitment team and the player is key to the way

Lampard wants his team to play. Once pitched in, he was an ever present starter and will again be a key component of any success for the Sky Blues next season. Ben Sheaf, meanwhile, had a

season hampered by injury and form until finally getting back into his stride towards the end of the campaign. Having been the subject of plenty of interest from higher-placed clubs this

time last year, it remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old will attract admirers this time around. Certainly, Doug King admitted that had City been successful in landing Marko Stamenic

last summer then it may well have opened the door for the club to cash in on the former Arsenal prospect with clear ambitions to play in the Premier League – the player admitting that the

club, ultimately, didn’t want him to go last year amid firm interest. Whether that transfer ship has since sailed remains to be seen. Elsewhere, Victor Torp made significant progress under

Lampard last term and much will be expected from the Dane, while Josh Eccles and Jamie Allen continue to be reliable options. Whether, however, either of the latter are content to be squad

players, again, remains to be seen. It’s another area where there’s flexibility for the club to be able to wheel and deal if opportunities arise to strengthen. ATTACKING MIDFIELD: KEEP AT

ALL COSTS Lampard’s star man is, without doubt Jack Rudoni whose 10 goals and 13 assists have put him on the radar of many a club this summer after an outstanding first season with the Sky

Blues. He loves working with his boyhood idol, Frank Lampard, and the head coach is moulding the attacking midfielder into a goal-getting player in his own image. There’s a strong bond

between the two and while Lampard will want the best for the lad, he’ll be desperate to keep him for at least one more season to help with a sustained promotion push. Rudoni started 40 of

City’s 46 league games and simply got better and better as the season went on, becoming the team’s biggest goal threat, particularly in the air. Settling into a number ten role, Lampard may

want to add competition/back-up. WINGERS: SETTLED STARTERS City’s wide positions are well blessed with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto on the right and Ephron Mason-Clark on the left – both top operators

at this level and two players whom Lampard rates and values extremely highly. However, there is a strong case for competition. The arrival of Raphael Borges Rodrigues last summer was hoped

to provide back-up on the right but it’s clear that unless the Australian comes back in pre-season and sets the place alight then he’s probably destined for a loan spell to get him up to

speed. A new specialist right winger, therefore, might well be on Lampard’s wish list. Haji Wright has been deployed off the left when Mason-Clark has had injuries and may be seen as a

continued option out wide where Jamie Paterson was an option last term but barely used. STRIKERS: SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE This is a really interesting area of the team with the jury out on

certain players. Haji Wright continued to be City’s leading scorer (12) despite missing almost four months of the season with a serious ankle injury and, as such, is the team’s main man up

front. Ellis Simms (7), meanwhile, continued to frustrate, unable to hit top form or impose himself in the team on a consistent basis and it may well be time for Lampard to move him on and

make way for a more reliable goal scorer. Brandon Thomas-Asante (6) is another who blew hot and cold last term. Both have their strengths – whether that’s power and physicality in Simms’

case or speed and movement in Thomas-Asante’s – but inconsistency is an issue. And then there’s Norman Bassette (2) who has all the raw ingredients, not least his blistering pace but, again,

needs to add goals and consistency to his game. City scored a total of 64 league goals, six fewer than 2023-24 but the fourth best in the division, bettered only by Leeds, Burnley and

Norwich. The fact that goals are coming from all areas of the pitch is a good thing but, clearly, Lampard could do with another regular and reliable goal scorer at the top end of the pitch.

WHAT AREAS OF THE TEAM ARE THE PRIORITY TO STRENGTHEN THIS SUMMER? CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAY. GET THE LATEST COVENTRY CITY HEADLINES SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE Get the latest Coventry

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