Coventry close in on in-demand Premier League player that would smash club record transfer

Coventry City are closing in on a deal for Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, talkSPORT understands.

Rushworth spent last season on loan at Coventry and helped them to promotion to the Premier League.

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Brighton had rejected a £20million bid from the newly-promoted side in June.

But the clubs are now working to finalise an agreement with optimism on all sides.

The 24-year-old starred for the Sky Blues as they stormed to the Championship title last season.

Rushworth played every league game for Frank Lampard‘s side, conceding just 45 goals and keeping 17 clean sheets.

Now that his loan is over, he has returned to Brighton, but Coventry are closing in on bringing him back to the club permanently.

New transfer record

Should the transfer be completed, it would blow their current transfer record out of the water.

The Sky Blues broke their record earlier this summer, with the £15.4m arrival of Aurele Amenda from Eintracht Frankfurt.

But Rushworth’s transfer is expected to be more than £20m.

It would also represent a coup for Coventry, with other Premier League sides monitoring Rushworth.

The goalkeeper only has one year left on his deal, and he has been watched by England on multiple occasions.

Huge fan

After playing every minute in the Championship, Lampard made it clear that he is a huge Rushworth fan.

Speaking about the goalkeeper last campaign, he said that England caps were waiting for him.

He said: “Yes, for sure [he could play for his country]. I mean, without telling any England manager what to do…

“I know Jordan Pickford, who I worked with (at Everton), and is an incredible goalkeeper, and the goalkeepers are around him.

“But Rushy, just to isolate him, he’s got absolutely the talent to be able to play for his country, in my opinion.

“He just needs to keep working, but the levels he’s playing at are really, really good, and he’s been a big signing for us.”

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Coventry’s transfer plans

talkSPORT also reported in June that Coventry had been weighing up a move for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The Southampton captain missed out on the chance at promotion to the top-flight due to the Saints sending an intern to spy on Middlesbrough ahead of the play-off semi-final first leg.

They have since signed defender Amenda from Frankfurt too.

But there is plenty more business expected to be made by Lampard, who, speaking on The Sports Bar with Jason Cundy and Jamie O’Hara after winning promotion, admitted there was lots to do.

The Chelsea legend said in May: “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ll do it quickly, and I think I feel like we have to do it quickly.

“It’s the owner’s choice, a lot of these things, because he’s the boss man in the football club. But the conversations obviously have to happen quickly, but also enjoy this little moment.”