Coventry City face Nottingham Forest transfer challenge over top flight left-back | OneFootball

Coventry City are among the clubs eyeing a deal for the Angers midfielder

Coventry City will be aiming to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League next season.

The Sky Blues clinched the Championship title on their way to ending a 25-year absence from the top flight.

Frank Lampard has earned a lot of plaudits for his role in returning the club to the highest level for the first time since 2001.

He will be hoping to receive the backing of owner Doug King this summer in the transfer window.

Coventry can look to Sunderland and Leeds United as examples of how to remain in the Premier League beyond one year, with both clubs surviving after gaining promotion last season.

However, Burnley offer the alternative, with the Clarets suffering relegation straight back down without much of a fight.

Coventry City set to compete with Nottingham Forest for Ligue 1 star

It has been reported by French outlet Foot Mercato that Coventry are among the clubs interested in a deal for Jacques Ekomié.

However, they face competition from Nottingham Forest in the race to sign the Ligue 1 player.

Angers are believed to be open to his sale due to the number of suitors chasing the 22-year-old’s signature, with his contract running until June 2027.

German sides Hamburg and Schalke are also monitoring the Gabon international’s future, as well as La Liga outfit Villarreal, and it’s understood that the left-back could be available for somewhere between €7 million and €10 million (£6 million-£8.6 million).

It is unclear what the player’s preference will be this summer, but the opportunity to work with Lampard and play in the Premier League could be quite alluring.

He made 32 appearances in the French top flight this season, with Angers recording a 13th place finish in the table, but an exit from the club now seems inevitable, with so many suitors now chasing his signature.

Coventry will be looking to build a team that can avoid relegation to the Championship next season, and have identified Ekomié as a transfer target.

This summer will be Angers’ last chance to cash in on this interest in him, as he is entering the final 12 months of his current contract.

Villarreal will be able to offer Champions League football next season, which could prove an issue for Coventry and Nottingham Forest, with neither club set to compete in European competition.

Jacques Ekomié signing could be a smart piece of business if Coventry City can get it done

Given the potential cost of around £6 million and 8 million, this could prove a smart piece of business by Coventry if they could get it over the line.

The left-back has top flight experience from his two seasons with Angers, playing 50 times in Ligue 1 since joining in the 2024 summer window, and he is also still only 22, so he has the potential to continue improving and developing, which could lead to his transfer value increasing quite dramatically.

Coventry face stiff competition to bring him to the CBS Arena, but the opportunity to work under someone like Lampard could help swing a deal in their favour over the likes of Forest, Schalke or Villarreal.

And the area of the pitch that Ekomié occupies is one that maybe needs looking at the most - Jake Bidwell and Jay Dasilva are two players that may not be able to step up to the Premier League, so getting in a young player with proven top flight capabilities may be important for Lampard.