Exclusive: What Southampton will have to pay if they want to sign Jack Rudoni from Coventry City | OneFootball

Football League World has learned Coventry City's significant asking price for Jack Rudoni amid interest from Southampton

Coventry City have now hardlined their stance on Jack Rudoni by setting a significant £15 million asking price for the star midfielder amid interest from Southampton, sources have exclusively informed Football League World on Tuesday morning.

The Saints will have to cough up an extremely sizable outlay if they are to prize the playmaker away from Championship rivals Coventry, having expressed an interest in acquiring his services following an electric debut season at the CBS Arena.

Rudoni joined Coventry just last summer from Huddersfield Town in a reported £5 million deal, putting pen to paper on a four-year contract. The 24-year-old midfielder repaid Coventry's faith by recording 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, helping Frank Lampard's side to a top-six finish in the process.

The Sky Blues are intent on retaining Rudoni beyond this summer's transfer window in order to help their chances of achieving promotion come May, and Southampton will have to stump up the cash to get a deal over the line.

Coventry City's £15m Jack Rudoni asking price after rejecting Southampton bid

Sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World that Coventry have placed a £15 million price tag on Rudoni, which appears a clear play to fend off interest elsewhere and ensure he spends a second season in the West Midlands following such an eye-catching debut season.

For the time being, at least, it remains unclear whether Southampton will meet the Sky Blues' valuation.

Last week, Jack Rosser of The Sun reported that Coventry had rejected a bid from Southampton that fell some way below the club's asking price, which FLW has now learned is nothing short of £15m, though it's not known exactly how much the Saints offered to try and lure Rudoni to the south coast.

Coventry, however, are in no rush to sell Rudoni and have security over the future of the ex-AFC Wimbledon and Huddersfield star, who has established himself as one of the most outstanding creative midfield operators at Championship level in recent times.

Most at home when deployed as an attacking midfielder, the versatile Rudoni can operate in a deeper midfield role and also on the left-hand side as either a winger or a wing-back, having turned out in all of those positions under Lampard in the 2024/25 campaign.

Coventry City's Jack Rudoni could be Mateus Fernandes replacement at Southampton

It's clear why Southampton have targeted a move for Rudoni, with impressive 21-year-old midfielder Mateus Fernandes likely to be on his way out of St Mary's before the current window slams shut on September 1.

The Portuguese under-21 international was among a small selection of Southampton players to have impressed in a historically dismal campaign for the club as they returned straight back to the Championship with just 12 points to their name.

Fernandes, who appeared as a second-half substitute in Southampton's dramatic 2-1 victory over newly-promoted Wrexham on the opening weekend, posted two goals and four assists in the Premier League and has emerged as the subject of widespread top-flight transfer interest.

Atlético Madrid and West Ham United are the latest clubs to be linked with Fernandes' signature, which is valued at a reported £30 million by Southampton.

If the Saints were to receive that fee for Fernandes, funds would be freed up for head coach Will Still to return to the market and set his sights on a replacement and Rudoni, who offers a similar creative and energetic presence in advanced midfield, would most certainly fit the bill.