"I know they're looking at Woolfenden" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals Coventry City plan to replace Bobby Thomas | OneFootball

The Ipswich Town centre back is on the radar of a few other Championship clubs

EFL pundit Lee Hendrie feels that Luke Woolfenden would be an apt replacement for Bobby Thomas if the 24-year-old departed Coventry City this summer.

Thomas has been the subject of a lot of transfer interest as the transfer window entered its final couple of weeks, after it was reported that Sheffield United had launched an £8 million bid to sign him.

Then, it was further claimed that Premier League duo Brentford and Burnley, the latter of which Thomas joined Coventry from in 2023, were considering moves for the centre-back.

Thomas is currently still a Sky Blue, but there's a chance that Frank Lampard may have to dip into the market between now and September 1st for a new defender if he does leave.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Hendrie believes that a move for Ipswich Town defender Woolfenden, who was a big part of the Tractor Boys' rise to the Premier League, would still give Lampard a good shot at going one better than the play-offs this season.

Lee Hendrie gives verdict on Luke Woolfenden, Coventry City reports

Sky Sports reported that Coventry had made a bid for Woolfenden. However, Kieran McKenna's side rejected the bid and have no intention of letting the 26-year-old, who has come up through the ranks at Portman Road, leave this summer, per the report.

In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Lee Hendrie said that Woolfenden would be a great replacement for Thomas, but a deal may be difficult to get done due to Ipswich's stance on a sale.

"It'll be a problem for Coventry if Bobby Thomas leaves, and I know they're looking at Woolfenden," Hendrie said.

"He's a good replacement, and they're looking at players of that calibre who could come in and fill that void.

"It's whether he'd be allowed to go, though, that's the big question."

Woolfenden played 41 league games in both of Ipswich's promotion seasons out of both League One and the Championship, and impressed in both. He'd most certainly be a good addition for Coventry if the Tractor Boys let him leave.

"He's been a key factor for Ipswich over the years ane he could step into the Bobby Thomas role if he does leave the club," Hendrie added.

"He wouldn't be a bad replacement whatsoever."

Coventry City will need to move quickly for Luke Woolfenden, amid other Championship interest

Given Thomas' importance to the Sky Blues over the past couple of seasons, the ideal situation for Coventry would be that their starting centre back remains at the club.

However, for a Coventry side that conceded 58 last season, more than the likes of Hull City and Derby County, shoring up the defence this summer was something which would have been on the to-do list of Lampard, regardless of the transfer status of Thomas.

Therefore, moving for Woolfenden, who looks to be on his way out of Portman Road, despite Ipswich's intentions not to sell him, seems like a smart thing to do. But with a plethora of fellow Championship sides looking to secure his services, Coventry need to act fast.

Both Watford and Stoke City are two sides that have registered their interest in the former promotion winner, who has slumped to fourth-choice at Ipswich this season, and the Hornets feel confident that they can get a deal done.

However, Coventry would offer more of a realistic promotion ambition in the short term for the 26-year-old, who would likely want to test himself in the Premier League once more following a 15-appearance stint last season.

Time will tell, but if the Sky Blues are only looking to bring Woolfenden in if Thomas departs, it may be too late to get the deal over the line once the first domino falls.