Coventry City warned over potential Sunderland transfer swoop - Wolves alternative name-dropped | OneFootball

Coventry City have been warned against making a deal to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who is currently on loan with Millwall.

Coventry City must utilise the summer transfer window to ready their squad for the Premier League, and the goalkeeper position could be an area of particular concern.

The Sky Blues have enjoyed the services of Carl Rushworth this term, but they may struggle to reacquire the man who has shone while on loan from Brighton.

Rushworth has helped Coventry's promotion bid by maintaining 16 clean sheets in 42 Championship appearances, making vital saves throughout the campaign.

Frank Lampard's men will officially seal their place in next season's Premier League if they avoid defeat against Blackburn Rovers this Friday, and they have time on their side with three more matches after that too - and they're already starting to be linked to new players ahead of the summer transfer window.

Anthony Patterson concern raised amid Coventry City transfer interest

Anthony Patterson played a key role as Sunderland won promotion from the Championship to the Premier League last season, but he was subsequently deemed surplus to requirements by the Black Cats.

Regis Le Bris' men allowed the goalkeeper to join Millwall on loan in the winter transfer window, and he is now vying to help the Lions reach the top flight.

As reported by GiveMeSport, Newcastle United have eyed a move for Rushworth, which dents the Sky Blues' chances of signing the 24-year-old permanently.

Meanwhile, Alan Nixon has revealed via Patreon that Coventry have targeted a move for Patterson.

Football League World asked our Sky Blues fan pundit, Chris Deez, if he thinks that the man on loan at Millwall from Sunderland is good enough for the Premier League.

Deez said: "I'm not exactly blown away by the prospect of us signing Anthony Patterson from Sunderland. He's obviously had a very good season for Millwall, don't get me wrong.

"I feel like that's his level, because, obviously, Sunderland had an incredible season last year in the Championship, they won the play-offs, he was a pivotal part of that squad, and the reason they achieved what they did.

"But, then, he almost immediately got dropped in the Premier League, and that's been the case for a handful of Sunderland players, who they obviously felt weren't ready or capable of that step-up.

"If they have identified that in a player who was so pivotal and important for them last season, why are we looking at him? That concerns me a little bit.

"Obviously, the plan, the dream, the hope, the wish is to bring Rushworth back. I don't know if it's going to happen, it's looking less and less likely.

"More teams are getting interested in him, Brighton are apparently more interested in keeping him, and promoting him to number one. With Wolves going down, I'd be looking at bringing in somebody like Jose Sa.

"I don't know what his wages would be, they might be a bit much for us. I'd imagine he's one of their higher earners. I don't know. But he's got bags of experience, Premier League experience, and I believe he's coming towards the end of his contract.

"He's a little bit on the older side, but I think that's exactly the kind of player, and the age and the experience that we need to be aiming for in our first season back in the Premier League."

Jose Sa could be a savvy signing for Coventry City over Anthony Patterson

Signing Rushworth from Brighton permanently would be the best-case scenario for Coventry, as they vie to sign a goalkeeper who can help their Premier League survival bid.

The 24-year-old has deservedly established himself as a fan favourite at the CBS Arena, while interest from the likes of Newcastle proves there is a consensus that he has what it takes to perform in the top flight.

However, as alluded to by Deez, if signing Rushworth permanently is not a viable option for Lampard's side, Wolves goalkeeper Sa could be a solid acquisition.

He has just one year left on his contract at Molineux, and has largely performed well in the Premier League since joining from Olympiacos in the summer of 2021 - he probably has no plans to play in the Championship, given he's still performed quite well in the top flight, so it could be a smart bit of business from Cov and Lampard.