With the Championship season drawing to a close and the playoffs set to provide the final showdown, West Bromwich Albion and champions Coventry City are already focusing on the transfer window.
The two couldn’t be in a more different position if they tried, but they share the same transfer goal this summer.
With Coventry and Frank Lampard looking to repeat Sunderland and Leeds United, West Brom will be looking for stability next season – one of the kind that can be offered.
West Brom and Coventry are battling to sign a new defender
For Coventry, the plan is clear. Recruitment will be key to any potential Premier League success, as will change tactics.
It’s how Sunderland survived and more this season, channeling the likes of Granit Xhaka. And it’s the way Leeds have all but ensured their survival, switching to a 3-5-2 formation to turn their season around.
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West Brom can still burst that Sky Blues bubble, though. They are determined to improve themselves in a desperate bid to ensure that Premier League dreams do not become a lost dream next season.
According to TEAMTalk, both Coventry and West Brom are vying to sign Rangers’ Leon King to begin their transfer business this summer.
The 22-year-old has impressed on loan at Ayr United this season, picking up the club’s player of the year award, and Coventry are now lining up to secure his signature.
On the other hand, the Baggies are also sniffing around and have been joined by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley – sparking a fierce battle to sign the King.
With so much momentum after a great campaign, though, it’s easy to see why this race has begun.
Why King could be the new Bobby Thomas
It’s not always that big names end up becoming great businesses. Leeds proved that by snapping up Anton Stach from Hoffenheim last summer. Now, Coventry can move on, and welcome an impressive Scottish talent in the form of King.
The 22-year-old has shown that he is ready to enter the top division this season. It’s a matter of which top tier he grows to, as Rangers have yet to say anything about the loanee.
“I’m excited to see Leon King this year. I think when I watched him last season, he was like a big Rolls Royce, the best looking football player. He came out, held it and looked comfortable for someone so young.” (Former Rangers player Alan Hutton)
For Lampard, King could be the new defensive leader and even his new Bobby Thomas. The latter improved over the past two seasons, eventually earning his Premier League award as a result.
Like King – who looks set to leave Ibrox after a difficult few years – Thomas has had to step down to further his career, leaving Burnley with only one first-team appearance under his belt and after a loan spell in the EFL.
He is now front and center under Lampard, although the top flight needs more than one outstanding defensive player.
If Coventry are up against some of the best sides in the world, turning to Thomas and rising star King would certainly be a good idea.
The Rangers loanee has been highly regarded for a long time and if the minutes fail to arrive at Ibrox, then a Premier League offer should be very tempting for the 22-year-old.
Of course, it’s also worth noting that it’s important for Coventry to get the balance right this summer. While King has impressed, he will need experience by his side if he is to make his debut campaign in the Premier League.
The Sunderland squad suggests that adding Premier League experience is the way to go. They decided to accept Xhaka, and they balanced their small team as a result.
If Coventry are to sign their next Thomas at King’s, it should be the start of a frenzy this summer. That is if West Brom don’t get there first, though.
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