Coventry City should have a keen eye on Middlesbrough developments before potential January swoop | OneFootball

The Sky Blues should be watching Middlesbrough's Dan Barlaser developments in the coming weeks ahead of a possible January move...

The focus surrounding Coventry City at the moment is understandably on their managerial situation after the shock sacking of Mark Robins on November 7th, but the Sky Blues must be fully prepared ahead of a potentially vital January transfer window.

With the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone in the Championship heading into matchday 16, it's an understatement to state that Coventry's season hasn't gone to plan so far.

Injuries to key players, a lack of consistency in results and performances from week to week, and now the uproar over the sacking of one of the most popular and successful managers in the club's history.

However, with the January transfer window fast approaching, the Sky Blues must enter it knowing what they need and who might be available, as it could prove to be one of the most important windows in recent times for them.

One player who Coventry should be keeping an eye on in the coming weeks is Middlesbrough's Dan Barlaser, as the central midfielder's fate on Teesside could be decided in the next handful of games.

Barlaser may have been a potential transfer candidate in the January transfer window, and with developing injury situations for other Middlesbrough central midfielders, now might be his chance to put himself in the shop window.

Hayden Hackney has returned to Teesside to be fully assessed by Middlesbrough's medical team at Rockliffe Park, after withdrawing from the England Under-21 camp ahead of last Friday's 0-0 draw with Spain through injury.

Whilst US international Aidan Morris has remained in the States in order to undergo a full array of tests and assessments after suffering a "knee sprain" in training, and when he will return to the North East is not yet known.

Understandably then, Boro boss Michael Carrick appears set to be without his excellent central midfield duo for Saturday's game against Oxford United at the least, handing Barlaser a big opportunity to prove his worth to Middlesbrough ahead of the January window.

Up to now, Hackney and Morris have simply become undroppable for Michael Carrick, which has resigned Barlaser to a backup role alongside the evergreen Jonny Howson so far this term.

However, after coming off the bench to score his first Boro goal against QPR on 5 November, the 27-year-old reminded everyone what he can still offer.

The former Rotherham United man had been moving closer and closer towards becoming a forgotten man at the Riverside, but with Morris and Hackney seemingly set for a spell on the sidelines, now may well be one of his last big chances to secure his long-term future at the Riverside.

However, if he doesn't take that chance, and the injuries to Hackney and Morris aren't long-term issues, then Boro may potentially look to offload him in January.

Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor were heavily linked with a move for him in the summer, but ultimately, nothing ever materialised. That did potentially show that Middlesbrough were and perhaps still are open to letting him go, however.

Coventry will be bracing themselves for January interest in key central midfielder

On face value, central midfield would appear to be one of Coventry's strongest departments of their squad, but that might not be the case for much longer.

Transfer interest in Ben Sheaf has been mounting for some time, with Premier League sides Ipswich Town and Fulham linked with a potential £10m move in the summer.

Sheaf himself has recently admitted that there was indeed interest in his services from a number of clubs, and with the 26-year-old only contracted at the CBS Arena until the summer of 2026, teams may look to test Coventry's resolve once again in January.

He's been an excellent servant to the Sky Blues for a number of seasons, but having now entered the prime years of his career, and with the club seemingly further from being ready to win Premier League promotion than they've been for some time, Sheaf may feel like it's time for a new challenge.

Barlaser's arrival would ease pressure on Sky Blues current options

Even if Sheaf does remain with Coventry beyond January, adding an extra piece of depth in central midfield still seems like an important need for the Sky Blues in the winter window.

Both Sheaf and fellow central midfielder Josh Eccles have struggled with injuries and staying fit in recent seasons, and Coventry have suffered as a result due to not being able to call upon strength in depth in those moments.

As a result, the Sky Blues have perhaps been slightly too over-reliant on that duo, with Jamie Allen now seemingly on the fringes of the squad, whilst the versatile Jack Rudoni is still finding his best position in the starting XI.

Therefore, adding a player of Barlaser's quality, experience and reliability would surely be a very shrewd move by Coventry, as it would ease the burden on Sheaf, Eccles and Rudoni, as well as providing a quality safety blanket should some January exits occur in the heart of the Sky Blues midfield.