Frank Lampard told Coventry’s new £21m signing could become ‘properly special’

Anticipated Coventry City signing Sidiki Cherif has ‘enormous potential’ and could be the perfect fit for the Premier League newcomers.

That’s the view of European football expert Andy Brassell, who believes the sky’s the limit for the 19-year-old striker widely reported to be joining Frank Lampard‘s Sky Blues.

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Cherif previously came through the youth ranks at French club Angers.

And Brassell thinks a move to Coventry would suit both parties.

Cherif ‘really good’ at Fenerbahce

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT about Sidiki, he said: “He’s still young. There’s a lot of pressure to put on him. He’s not got the history of scoring 20 goals a season because he just hasn’t been around for long enough.

“But he looked the part at Angers and he arrived at Fenerbahce in winter last season and looked like he was going to be back up to another big centre-forward. They never got that other big centre-forward.

“He ended up playing a lot more than you thought he would. But he was good; he was really good. Someone like that who is really good at holding the ball up, who can score goals… He’s intelligent; he can run the channels – but he’s also good with the ball in front of him.

“That’s really ideal if you’re Coventry. He can play a lot of different ways. Despite being young, he’s not fazed by big pressure situations. He’ll get time and good coaching.

“So I feel like it’s a pretty good move for him. It’s another example of how Premier League money can make a massive difference and enable clubs that you wouldn’t think would be able to to get in players that you wouldn’t think they would be able to get.”

Brassell went on to explain what a high ceiling Cherif has and what a top player he could become.

He continued: “He’s got enormous potential; there’s no doubt about it. He’s shown already, I think in a relatively small sample size, that he’s got the ability to step up and really take the bull by the horns. This is a great opportunity for him.

“Clearly the way Fenerbahce have gone is a bit more experienced. They’ve brought in Romelu Lukaku as well. Maybe that would limit his minutes a little bit. But Cherif scored [and] showed in big moments last season that he was ready to seize the opportunity with both hands.

“So, if you think that Angers were written off left and right; they’ve had some horrendous financial problems over the last couple of years. He was a big part of them punching way above their weight before he went last season. So I guess in that sense, it’s a similar situation to Coventry. No one’s expecting them to stay up.

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“I think he’s a really good get. I think coach him right and he could turn into something properly special.”

Coventry’s busy summer

Last season’s Championship winners, Coventry have already made a host of signings as they head into their first top-flight campaign for 25 years.

Remarkably, the Sky Blues have broken their transfer record four times during the current window, most recently to bring in Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi from Danish side Nordsjaelland.

Their latest new signing arrived on Monday as striker Taiwo Awoniyi joined from Nottingham Forest.

However, they have reportedly had a bid for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who Lampard managed at Chelsea, turned down by AC Milan.

Sky Blues face big challenge on long-awaited return

Coventry begin the new season with the toughest test possible: a trip to champions Arsenal for Friday’s Premier League curtain-raiser, live on talkSPORT.

The Sky Blues then host fellow promoted team Hull City in their first home game the following Saturday.