Reaction given to Carl Rushworth, Coventry City transfer news - 'I am honestly flabbergasted' | OneFootball

Brighton & Hove Albion's stance on Coventry City loanee Carl Rushworth has been revealed ahead of the summer transfer window.

Coventry City are likely to be in for a busy summer transfer window, as the Sky Blues potentially prepare for life in the Premier League.

Frank Lampard's side are top of the table, and are seven points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough heading into this weekend's fixtures.

Coventry have been the team to beat for much of this year's league campaign, and it's tough to see them throwing away such a healthy points advantage given that there are only eight games remaining this term.

Plenty of players in Lampard's squad have played starring roles in the Sky Blues' promotion push from the Championship this term, with goalkeeper Carl Rushworth's impressive showings catching the eye for all the right reasons.

The shot-stopper is currently on loan from Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion, and he's certainly made a good impression whilst on loan with Coventry City.

Brighton's Rushworth valuation revealed

It's recently been reported that Coventry would have to pay in the region fo £15m-£20m to secure a permanent agreement for Rushworth, who has been a regular in the starting XI for the Sky Blues this season.

Coventry City fan pundit, Chris Deez reacted to the news of this valuation, and was certainly left surprised with the price put on Rushworth's head for any potential suitors this summer.

"If £15m-£20m is a real and legitimate valuation that Brighton have put on Rushworth, then I am honestly flabbergasted. I was expecting it to be easily double that, sort of in the £30m-£40m range.

"He's young, had an incredible first season for us. He's English, Tuchel has already been looking at him, apparently, if you believe the reports from 3/4 months ago.

"I think that if the valuation really is £15m-£20m, then a lot of teams are going to be interested in him. He's said some fantastic things about Coventry. Recently he's said that if we get promoted, he wants to stay with us, and that's incredible to hear for any Coventry fan. It's exactly what you want to hear from your loan players, especially one that's been so incredibly important.

"Without Rushworth, we'd be mid-table. Dovin was a great keeper, don't get me wrong, but Rushworth has just been out of this world for us."

'He has to be the first order of business'

Deez went on to issue his thoughts on the potential of Rushworth moving elsewhere in the Premier League, before stating that a permanent offer to the shot-stopper has to be top of Coventry City's agenda this summer.

"I just hope and pray that everything he has said is true and that he's not motivated by money. He's a young player, so if a bigger club than us, like a mid-table club in the Premier League comes in and offers him double what we could pay him, then I wouldn't hold it against him.

"I'd be very disappointed. I'd be upset. I want to see him sign for us, obviously. I wouldn't hold a grudge if he took that opportunity, especially if it gave him more chance to get picked for England.

"If we get promoted, he has to be the first order of business. There's Onyeka as well, because his deal was loan to buy if we got promoted due to the terms of the deal. But aside from that, Rushworth has to be number one, top of the agenda, because with him, he gives us a fighting chance of staying up."

Coventry are set to return to action this weekend, as they look to extend their advantage at the top of the table with a positive result against Swansea City, in what has the potential to be a tricky test for the Sky Blues away from home.