Coventry City will be hoping to challenge for promotion from the Championship next season.
The Sky Blues were beaten by Luton Town on penalties in the play-off final in the 2022-23 season, and after losing star duo Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer last summer, they made a slow start to the season.
Coventry sat as low as 20th in the table in late November, but a significant upturn in form in the second half of the season saw them emerge as top six contenders.
The Sky Blues missed out on the play-off places as they finished ninth in the table, but it will be seen as another season of progress under the guidance of Mark Robins, particularly considering their FA Cup exploits.
Coventry produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in FA Cup history as they recovered from 3-0 down against Manchester United in the semi-final at Wembley to take the game to extra time, but after having a late goal ruled out for offside, they went on to lose on penalties to the eventual winners of the competition.
Robins has started his summer rebuild, with senior players such as Simon Moore and Liam Kelly departing at the end of their contracts, and midfielder Callum O’Hare is also likely to be moving after rejecting the offer of a new deal.
The Sky Blues will be keen to strengthen their squad this summer in preparation for another promotion push, and owner Doug King could provide Robins with significant backing in the transfer market once again.
Coventry City fan pundit on potential summer business
FLW’s Coventry City fan pundit Neil Littlewood believes striker Matty Godden and goalkeeper Ben Wilson could leave the club this summer.
Godden scored nine goals in 41 appearances in all competitions this season, but his minutes became increasingly limited over the course of the campaign, and he has been linked with a move to League One side Charlton Athletic.
Wilson kept an impressive 22 clean sheets in 47 games in the 2022-23 season, but he made just 22 appearances this campaign, and he twice lost his place to Brad Collins.
Neil also said that striker Haji Wright, who scored 19 goals and provided eight assists in 50 games this season, could attract interest from elsewhere in January, and he predicted that the Sky Blues will sign a player on loan from Man United this summer after their FA Cup meeting.
“So my first prediction is that Matty Godden leaves the football club,” Neil said.
“He cut a bit of a frustrated figure last season playing second or third fiddle to Simms and Wright.
“I could see us being in the market for another striker.
“We’ve got to put a lot of respect on Matty Godden’s name, we wouldn’t be where we are as a football club without him, but I think time has caught up with him a little bit.
“I think he could still do a job for a side towards the bottom end of the table, potentially a promotion-chasing side in League One, and he’ll go and score goals.
“There was talk of Charlton, I believe, and I think that would be a great move for him.
“I know he’s still got a base down in Kent, so it would be close to home and less travelling.
“It’s the league below, so he would go and score goals for fun there, and they will love him.
“My first prediction is that Matty Godden will move on, and if I had to stick my neck on the line, I’d say to Charlton.
“My second prediction is that I think offers will come in for Haji Wright come January.
“I think he’s the sort of player that clubs may look to strengthen their squads with in January.
“I think that could happen, but I don’t want it to happen.
“I think something that’s more certain is that Ben Wilson could move on this summer.
“He’s gone from the golden glove two seasons ago, a promotion play-off final and losing in a penalty shoot-out, to being ousted by Brad Collins.
“He got back in, got ousted again, and I think he’s at the point of his career where he’s had a taste of being number one now and will still want to be a number one, so I could potentially see Ben Wilson moving on this summer.
“In terms of players coming in, I think we get a Man United player on loan.
“I don’t know who, but I think after the FA Cup semi-final, we proved how we play our football, our philosophy and style of play.
“I think the higher-ups at Man United will have look at that and think it could be a good place for our players to go and learn and nurture their talents.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say we sign a loan player from Man United, I’d take Amad Diallo, but I think he’s going to be in and around the squad.
“I’ve always liked the look of Dan Gore, but I don’t know if he’s ready for this level yet.
“I don’t know who, but I’ve just got an inkling that we will sign someone from Man United on loan.”
Coventry City must hold firm on key players this summer
It is difficult to disagree with Neil that Godden and Wilson could leave the CBS Arena this summer.
Godden has been a crucial part of the Coventry squad over the last five years, but he is no longer the club’s first choice striker, and he should attract plenty of interest from League One.
Wilson struggled to nail down his place this season, and Collins ended the season as number one, but it would be no surprise to see Robins bring in a new goalkeeper this summer after being unconvinced by his existing options.
The Sky Blues can afford to sanction the departure of some of their fringe players, but with O’Hare expected to move on, they must ensure they hold on to the rest of their stars, including the likes of Wright, Ellis Simms and Ben Sheaf.
