James Maddison back to Coventry City? It could happen on one condition | OneFootball

Coventry should make a move for James Maddison if Tottenham Hotspur are relegated this season

After a 25-year wait, Coventry City will be playing Premier League football next season, as plans for recruitment at the CBS Arena this summer will be well underway.

Frank Lampard has orchestrated Coventry's long-awaited return to the Premier League after a quarter-century absence from the top flight, and ahead of the summer window, the former Chelsea and England midfielder will be eagerly jotting names down on his shopping list for the club to pursue.

It's no secret that Carl Rushworth will be a priority this summer, with the Brighton goalkeeper having joined on loan for the season and having had an exemplary year between the sticks, but the Sky Blues likely won't be done there.

For all of Coventry's talent across the squad, the one thing they lack is Premier League experience, with Brentford loanee Frank Onyeka having by far the most experience in the top-flight amongst the squad, something which Lampard must address.

The experience of playing in the English top tier cannot be understated, which is something Lampard, more than most, will be well aware of.

Experience and quality at Premier League level will not come around easily, and certainly not cheaply, though the Sky Blues could complete the stunning return of a former midfielder this summer on one key condition.

Coventry should make a move for former midfielder James Maddison this summer if Tottenham Hotspur are relegated

Coventry will be looking to follow in the footsteps of both Sunderland and Leeds United next campaign by retaining their place in the Premier League, but to do so, recruitment must be spot on.

Sunderland spent big on overhauling their squad, with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Robin Roefs, and Brian Brobbey pivotal to the Black Cats' survival, whilst Leeds were more savvy with their business, adding both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and James Justin on free transfers, whilst Anton Stach and Noah Okafor have been solid additions, too.

The gap between the Championship and Premier League is ever-increasing, and Lampard will have his work cut out to keep Coventry afloat next season, but could boost those chances with the addition of former midfielder James Maddison.

Maddison, a seven-capped England international, came through the ranks at Coventry before spells with Aberdeen and Norwich City propelled him into the spotlight, where he would shine with Leicester City before making a £40 million move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023.

Unfortunately for the 29-year-old, an ACL injury has ruled him out of almost the entirety of this season, only recently returning to the bench against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The attacking-midfielder has undoubted quality at the top level, with over 50 goals and 50 assists in over 220 appearances in the Premier League for Leicester and Spurs, but could well leave the latter this summer should relegation become a reality.

The North London side are at serious risk of dropping into the Championship for the first time in nearly 50 years, and should that be the case, an exodus will likely take place at the club in the upcoming window, with Maddison potentially being one of those casualties.

Should Spurs indeed face the drop, Coventry should look to bring Maddison back to the club as a priority, despite his injury issues.

The Englishman still has a strong affinity for the club and will no doubt be pleased to learn of their promotion and would likely relish the chance to return home and play in front of his friends and family at the CBS Arena.

Lampard will be well aware of Maddison's qualities, and he would offer strong competition for Jack Rudoni in the number ten position for the Sky Blues.

Under contract until the summer of 2028, it's unknown at this stage what sort of fee Spurs would command to allow Maddison to leave in any instance.

A deal could also become more complicated if Maddison is unwilling to take a major pay cut on his £170k per week wages, as estimated by Capology.

His return could be a match made in heaven, and although he has spent almost a year out of action, it could be a risk worth taking for the Sky Blues, factoring in his potential wages, with Maddison potentially being the difference between relegation and survival.

Frank Lampard's influence could be the key to any Coventry return made by James Maddison this summer

Given his pedigree in the game, Lampard will likely play a key role in any additions coming Coventry's way this summer.

For Maddison, the chance to work under one of England's greatest midfielders of all time at his boyhood club will surely be a hugely attractive offer, and if anyone can convince the 29-year-old to take a hit on his current wages, it would be Lampard and Coventry.

The former Chelsea midfielder will be working around the clock to create his shortlist for this summer, and it would be a surprise to nobody to see Maddison on there.

Any deal would be a hugely popular one, certainly amongst Coventry