Frank Lampard given Coventry transfer list which includes ‘next Eden Hazard’

Apr 28, 2026 - 14:15

Frank Lampard has been told about three players for Coventry City to copy Sunderland’s blueprint next season.

The Sky Blues boss wasted no time addressing the Premier League challenge that awaits his side after winning the Championship title.

Frank Lampard celebrates with the Championship title — Lampard has guided Coventry to their first second-tier title since 1967

England’s top-flight was in danger of becoming a closed shop after successive seasons saw all three newly promoted sides relegated.

However, Sunderland ripped up the rulebook by breaking the spending record for a club promoted from the Championship.

The Black Cats splashed more than £150million on new players, which included stars from Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain, and Ajax.

And the results have been clear to see, with a top-half finish still on the cards for Sunderland, while fellow promoted club Burnley have already been relegated, having amassed 26 points fewer.

Lampard himself knows Coventry will also need to be proactive in the transfer market this summer to avoid his side becoming a Yo-Yo club.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” The Chelsea legend told talkSPORT. “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.”

Coventry have already confirmed that loan star Frank Onyeka is joining the club permanently following their promotion.

And talkSPORT understands the club are looking to sign on loan goalkeeper Carl Rushworth on a permanent deal from Brighton.

But European football guru Andy Brassell has drawn up an additional three-player wishlist that could give Coventry the boost they need.

talkSPORT verdict on Lampard's transfers

talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan told White & Jordan: “There is a difference in quality between the Championship and the Premier League.

“You don’t have to take my word for it. Just look at the table. Look at the Premier League. Look at the teams that go up. Look at the teams that come down.

“Coventry haven’t spent 25 years outside of the Premier League to go down with a whimper. That being said, they will also want to be sensible about the fact that the balance of probability suggests they might.

“And they will want to make sure that they don’t disadvantage themselves and put themselves in the cart economically by making big investments that can’t be sustained in the longer term and become a problem, if the worst was to if the worst was to happen.”

Arsenal invincible Martin Keown added: “He’s going to have to be imaginative with his signings, with his acquisitions, with the loanees.

“Sunderland have proved, but they paid quite big money. Sunderland, they paid quite a lot of money for those guys, paid into the 20 millions. They weren’t paying five and sixes. They went after proper players. Anyone that was available, they went and got.”

Frank Lampard, Manager of Coventry City, celebrates victory with Ephron Mason-Clark — Lampard has an instant challenge on his hands making his squad Premier League ready

Frank Lampard’s three transfer wishlist

During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com, Brassell picked out a Bundesliga defender, a Ligue 1 striker and Ajax’s latest wonderkid.

The first of which is a name Lampard has already managed against, in a 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in his 2019 pre-season, during his first stint in the dugout at Chelsea.

Nico Elvedi ironically sparked the Blues’ comeback from two goals down after conceding a penalty in that match.

But seven years later, the centre-back, who has scored two goals and registered one assist in 34 appearances this season, could be the profile Lampard needs to strengthen his Coventry backline.

“29 years old now, experienced at club and an international level for Switzerland,” Brassell explained. “Sort of slightly surprising that he hasn’t developed to the point where he would have joined a really, really big successful club anyway to me.

(L-R) Nico Elvedi of Borussia Monchengladbach, Mason Mount of Chelsea FC during the Club Friendly match between Borussia Monchengladbach v Chelsea — Elvedi played against Lampard’s Chelsea in his final pre-season match before the 2019/20 season

Nico Elvedi is ‘an asset of value’

“He seems like a good candidate to go and get because at this point Monchengladbach aren’t challenging for anything in the near future.

“He’s an asset of value. He’s experienced, and I think that is important going into the Premier League

“He’s a good leader of the defence as well.

“So I think that’s important.”

Nico Elvedi of Borussia Monchengladbach — Elvedi has spent the past decade playing in the Bundesliga

‘Next Eden Hazard’

Poetically, that Chelsea pre-season where Lampard first came across Elvedi was the first at the club in seven years without Eden Hazard.

The latter’s £100m move to Real Madrid cost Lampard the chance to work with him at Stamford Bridge as manager.

Yet the 47-year-old has memories of a young Hazard arriving at Stamford Bridge, and may get flashbacks when scouting Mika Godts.

The 20-year-old Belgian has understandably drawn comparisons with his famous compatriot after scoring 16 goals and notching 11 assists in 29 Eredivisie games despite Ajax’s struggles this season.

Brassell added: “Probably the most exciting name I’ve gone for, Mika Godts, who’s had a really good season for Ajax.

Mika Godts in action for Ajax — Godts has attracted interest from the Premier League’s elite clubs

“Ajax have not had a really good season, just to be clear on that, but he has had a really good individual season for Ajax.

“A player who is kind of halfway between a traditional winger because he could dribble, and a wide forward because he’s a goal scorer as well.

“He’s aware enough to set up others. He’s made the most of the fact that Malick Fofana has missed a lot of this season through injury to break into the Belgian national team.

“Ajax, not in an amazing position – Go get him now!”

'Next Eden Hazard' Mika Godts — The two-cap Belgian international has been dubbed the ‘next Eden Hazard’

Original Sin

The third and final player was already one Lampard was reportedly interested in bringing to the club in the most recent winter window.

Coventry were said to be rivalling Middlesbrough and Wolves for Lassine Sinayoko, who has scored eight Ligue 1 goals this campaign.

The striker ultimately extended his contract with AJ Auxerre until 2027, but the one-year extension suggests he will be made available.

“I know people would look at his numbers and say, well, he’s not a great goal scorer,” Brassell told talkSPORT.com. “I think he would be a more consistent goal scorer in a better team.

“He’s playing for one of the teams that’s really struggled at the bottom of Ligue 1 this season, but he’s mature at 26, knows where the goal is, can create his own shot, links play really well, and does plenty off the ball.

“He’s very very industrious, and some of the teams who are edging towards European places in Ligue 1 were looking at him at the start of the season and weren’t able to get a deal done because he was just too expensive.

“Obviously, that wouldn’t be a problem for Coventry with the Premier League money.

Lassine Sinayoko in action for Auxerre — Sinayoko was heavily linked with a move to Coventry in January

“I mean, I looked at a few attacking midfielders, and I can think of a few who would add a bit of bang for Coventry.

“Someone like Seko Fofana, who Porto probably won’t be able to keep because of his wages. He’s on loan from Rennes.

“He was one that sprung to mind, but I really believe in Jack Redoni – You’ve got to be careful with the sort of players who are gonna lift the level, but not sort of tread on the toes of the players who have already been so successful for Coventry.”