Coventry City transfer news from CoventryLive as we take an in-depth look at Ben Sheaf’s transfer status a year after Doug King went close to cashing in on the Sky Blues’ captain

This time last year Coventry City appeared ready to cash in on Ben Sheaf with a transfer that would have potentially suited both parties.

The former Arsenal prospect’s stock and profile was high, not least on the national stage when the midfielder stood out in the Sky Blues FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium when he was widely regarded as one of the best of his type in the Championship.

A saleable asset, Sheaf’s future appeared uncertain. Would the club cash in on the then 26-year-old with ambitions to step up and return to the Premier League amid reported interest from a number of potential suitors? Fulham and newly-promoted Ipswich Town were reported to have joined Luton Town in having an “interest” in Sheaf after City missed out on promotion themselves. The Sun reported that all three clubs were keen, with a fee of around £10million being touted.

So what’s the situation 12 months on? Here we take a look at things as they stand and what could happen.

READ MORE: Frank Lampard on Coventry City recruitment and ‘improving’ in the summer transfer window

READ MORE: Premier League free agent XI for Coventry City and rivals to consider

What’s Sheaf’s contract situation?

It was widely believed last summer that Sheaf had just two years left on his contract, with many suspecting the club would cash in on the player while his value was high rather than leave it another 12 months when he’d only have a year left. However, it emerged in February this year that the club, in actual fact, has an option to extend the player’s deal by another year until the summer of 2027 thus, in the words of Frank Lampard, meaning there is “no rush” to secure the skipper on a new long-term contract.

What was the club’s stance on Sheaf this time last summer?

Doug King revealed last Autumn that the club had been ready to cash in on Sheaf had they been successful in securing the services of their number one summer target, Marko Stamenic.

“We felt if we could get a high quality number six in at some point it would give us flexibility in respect of whether there could maybe some outgoings – I think Ben Sheaf mentioned that he had an approach in the summer – so we don’t know how it would have all played out,” said King, speaking to CoventryLive last November.

“Listen, we looked at a lot of players and went after a couple of players, of which Marko Stamenic was one of them.”

The New Zealand international, however, didn’t want to come and, instead, opted to sign for Nottingham Forest who immediately sent him out on a season-long loan to the Premier League side’s sister club, Olympiacos in the Greek Super League.

What’s the player’s stance?

Sheaf revealed last October that he had had firm interest from “a few clubs” in the summer (2024) but that City – then managed by Mark Robins – wanted to keep him at the CBS Arena.

Asked about the summer speculation linking him to several clubs and whether there was any truth in it, Sheaf told CoventryLive: “Yeah, there was stuff in it, for sure, but ultimately I am a Coventry player.

“Cov wanted me to stay so I am contracted here and once that window was closed that was it, I had to knuckle down and my full focus is on Coventry.”

What former boss Mark Robins said at the time about Sheaf’s ambitions?

“He’s a top player at the level and I think he knows that,” he said, speaking last October. “I know that he thinks he should be playing in the Premier League, so that’s something that is there in him and within him. And he will be doing everything that he possibly can to make sure that he’s playing there as quickly as he possibly can do… Hopefully with us.”

What’s the transfer situation with Sheaf 12 months on from last summer?

The arrival of a new ball winning number six in January – namely Matt Grimes – may well pave the way for Sheaf to move on, albeit Frank Lampard found a way of playing both in his team towards the back end of last season, proving that the pair can complement each other.

However, the fact that the captain was forced to sit out twice for a number of weeks during the course of the season, initially with a bad ankle injury suffered in pre-season and then in the New Year with a calf strain, had an impact on his form, which he never really properly regained until later in the campaign.

Whether that means his stock has gone down and whether it could affect interest in his services remains to be seen.

What Frank Lampard has said about playing both Sheaf and Grimes in the same team

“I think they’ve got different qualities as midfield players and I think they can both operate in deeper parts of midfield but I think particularly with Grimesy, he really enjoys to be deep, particularly in possession, how he helps to build within the team,” said the head coach, speaking to CoventryLive at the end of February on Sheaf’s return from injury.

“Sheafy has slightly different qualities and I think has a want and a desire to be able to use his physical capacity as well to join in. So he can be a bit hybrid, a bit down and a bit higher up the pitch at different times.”