Coventry City transfer briefing: The sell-on clause for Viktor Gyokeres revealed, the price tag slapped on Milan van Ewijk and key position Frank Lampard is looking to strengthen ahead of promotion push

After missing out twice on promotion in agonising fashion, Coventry hope the upcoming season will be third time lucky for them.

In 2023, they lost on penalties to Luton in the Championship play-off final. And last spring, despite dominating Sunderland home and away in the play-off semi-final, Frank Lampard’s men were squeezed out 3-2 on aggregate after late goals in both legs. How sickening it must have been to see Sunderland clinch a place in the top flight by beating Sheffield United at Wembley.

But all is not lost. Even though Milan van Ewijk may depart, Coventry should keep together the bulk of the squad who reached the top six and they will have a full season under Frank Lampard.

Last term, Lampard took over from Mark Robins in the autumn and carried the Sky Blues from the brink of a relegation battle to the play-offs. This time, he will start level with everyone else.

Here Mail Sport takes a closer look at Coventry’s prospects, including the clubs looking at Van Ewijk, that Viktor Gyokeres sell-on clause and whether it is now or never for the Doug King era.

Will Coventry sell Milan van Ewijk?

The signing of Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa earlier this summer showed Coventry’s intentions. Kesler-Hayden is a proven Championship full back and clubs like Coventry do not pay £3.5million for squad players.

All signs point to Van Ewijk leaving but there is no guarantee it happens. Mail Sport can reveal the Sky Blues currently value the Dutchman at about £15m and have yet to receive a formal offer, though they have had enquiries from Premier League clubs.

Van Ewijk, who changed agents earlier this summer, is admired by Wolves though is not thought to be top of their list for the right wing-back slot.

There have been expressions of interest from numerous other clubs, including Everton and Burnley, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt, Flamengo, Bologna and Besiktas. There have been no firm bids yet, though.

How much will Viktor Gyokeres’ move to Arsenal help?

Sell-on clauses are complicated matters. Sometimes there are different sub-clauses relating to different leagues or different transfer windows. Sometimes they apply only over a short period of time.

In the case of Gyokeres, it is believed the £17m Sporting Lisbon paid Coventry in 2023 contained an arrangement that meant Coventry would be entitled to about 10 per cent of any profit Sporting made on the centre forward, who is due to join Arsenal for an initial £55m, rising to a possible £64m.

According to Mail Sport sources, Coventry are due a little less than £4m if the move goes through – a very handy sum for a club who still have work to do in the market.

What about a new striker?

The strong sense is that Frank Lampard would be open to adding a new No 9 if Coventry can make the sums add up.

Between them, Haji Wright, Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Norman Bassette managed 24 league goals last seas, with exactly half supplied by Wright, who also struggled with fitness issues and is probably more effective operating wide than through the middle.

To complicate matters, there have been suggestions Wright is open to leaving Coventry this summer and if that happened, Lampard’s men would suddenly look very light in attack.

That is why Lampard is also on the lookout for an attacker who can operate either wide or from the No 10 position, to boost the Sky Blues’ firepower.

Departures are needed first, though, and there may be movement on that front next week, both permanently and on loan.

Will there be changes in defence?

Yes. As well as Kesler-Hayden, Coventry also signed Spanish left back Miguel Angel Brau and know they may have to move into the centre back market, too, as Luis Binks has admirers both in England and overseas.

The arrival of Brau creates a more pressing issue, though: Lampard now has three senior left backs and assuming Brau will be the starter, he can hardly leave one of Jake Bidwell or Jay Dasilva in the stand every week.

Bidwell signed a new deal at Coventry only in January and contested the left back spot with Dasilva throughout last season. It is anticipated that one of the pair will leave, and Bidwell is liked by Derby.

The Rams signed Liverpool youngster Owen Beck on loan for the season earlier this month but may decide to sign a more experienced left back, too, if they can find a taker for Callum Elder.

Coventry have also needed a new goalkeeper ever since Oliver Dovin sustained serious knee damage in April and Carl Rushworth is set to join on a season-long loan from Brighton, pending a medical.

Do Coventry need to win promotion this season?

In two of the last three seasons, Coventry have come desperately close to reaching the Premier League, only to stumble with the finishing line in sight.

Owner Doug King’s dream is to return the club to the top flight for the first time since 2001 and will continue to invest this summer, but funds are not limitless, especially when Coventry do not own the CBS Arena. This season may, then, represent a touchpoint for Coventry.

The clubs relegated from the Premier League – Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton – do not seem as formidable as in previous seasons and Coventry finished in the top six last season despite a dreadful start.

They will keep the bulk of their squad together and have had a full pre-season under Lampard. Fall short this time, though, and it is easy to imagine a change of policy, with top players sold and wages reassessed.

‘This season or bust’ is too dramatic a way to label the forthcoming campaign yet there is a sense that time might be running out for Coventry, at least in this era.

Where does Frank Lampard fit in?

Lampard did an outstanding job to lift Coventry from a relegation battle to the play-offs last term and they will rightly be one of the favourites for a top-six finish.

A man who has spent nearly his entire career in the top flight, Lampard has come to Coventry to get the club back there.

When he was hired last autumn, Lampard knew there would be investment to keep Coventry away from trouble and he will be backed again ahead of his first full season.

This remains, however, a marriage of convenience: Lampard is here to rebuild his reputation as a manager and Coventry hope that if he does so, it will mean Coventry are a Premier League club.

It is in everyone’s interests, from King, to Lampard, to the squad and the club’s wider plans, that he succeeds.