Coventry City‘s pursuit of Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth has taken another twist, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has revealed.
The Sky Blues have been interested in securing Rushworth‘s signature on a permanent basis for quite some time, given the impact he made on loan at the CBS Arena last season.
Manager Frank Lampard made it clear he’s a huge fan of the goalkeeper, saying: “He’s an easy maintenance player, just really professional. He’s a high, high talented goalkeeper, Rushy, and he can go as far as he wants to go.
“He’s got absolutely the talent to be able to play for his country, in my opinion.”
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
Coventry need a permanent number one and their former loanee could be the ideal option, considering he is already proven at the CBS Arena, keeping 17 clean sheets en-route to promotion as champions. |
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Finances |
The Sky Blues have had an offer in excess of £20m knocked back though, which means they would need to shatter their existing transfer record, which was set when they signed Haji Wright from Antalyaspor for £7.7m. |
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Insight |
We Are Brighton writer Andrew James lauded the shot-stopper for his “absolutely sensational” performances in the Championship last season, and he shipped just 45 goals across the entire campaign. |
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Impact |
Everton’s Mark Travers is also a target for Lampard’s side, but he would perhaps be a risky signing, having made just 24 Premier League appearances at the age of 27. Should they manage to bring in Rushworth, the Toffees could shelve plans to sign the Toffees’ back-up goalkeeper. |
Dharmesh Sheth shares Carl Rushworth to Coventry update
According to Sheth, in a report for Sky Sports, Coventry are still in talks to sign the Halifax-born goalkeeper, but getting a deal over the line is proving to be difficult.
Having already had one bid knocked back, the Sky Blues have now had a second proposal in excess of £20m rejected by the Seagulls.
Carl Rushworth ready to test himself in the Premier League
There is a strong case to be made for the 25-year-old being the best goalkeeper in the Championship last season. The Englishman prevented 6.7 goals, which was more than any of his positional peers, and a clean sheet tally of 17 was the highest in the second tier.
Moreover, a save percentage of 73.2% was the third-highest in the division, behind only Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson and Millwall’s Max Crocombe.
Brighton are playing hardball over their goalkeeper, despite already having an established number one in Bart Verbruggen, who starred for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Rushworth is yet to prove himself at such a level, which means he may be unlikely to displace Verbruggen in the starting XI anytime soon, so a return to the CBS Arena may make sense for all parties, but Coventry shouldn’t be held to ransom.
Lampard personally wants Coventry City to sign player who’s now left Tottenham
The Sky Blues boss is a bid admirer.
