What Frank Lampard has said about Coventry City’s January transfer plans amid links to 7-goal winger | OneFootball

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard wants to sign players in January, but he refused to say whether the club are keen on Mjallby's Abdoulie Manneh.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard refused to be drawn on whether the club will look to sign Mjallby’s Abdoulie Manneh in the January window, but he did confirm they plan to strengthen the squad.

The Sky Blues have enjoyed a brilliant season so far, as they currently lead the way in the Championship, with Lampard’s side having played some fantastic football. Coventry boast a five-point lead over second-placed Middlesbrough after just 15 matches, in which they have already managed to amass a goal remarkable goal difference of +27 as hopes of a Premier League return among the City faithful continue to grow each passing week.

However, there are a lot of games to be played, so Lampard won’t be getting carried away quite jjust yet as he looks to take the club back to the top-flight.

Frank Lampard discusses Coventry City’s January transfer plans amid Abdoulie Manneh links

One worry for some Coventry fans is the lack of squad depth, as, despite their obvious quality, the Midlands outfit aren’t exactly stacked for options in several areas.

It has been claimed that Manneh is a target, with the attacker having impressed for Mjallby in Sweden as they pulled off a remarkable shock to win the league against all odds.

Yet, when asked about the prospect of bringing Manneh to the CBS Arena, Lampard refused to give much away when speaking to Coventry Live, but he did admit that they will seek reinforcements in the New Year to address what he believes is a ‘thin’ squad. He didn't play down interest in Manneh's services, either, which may just make this one to watch as we edge closer to the turn of the year.

“I can’t say much about that (Manneh) because he’s not our player. We’re always constantly looking to improve and I think that this year, specifically, we’ve got a tight squad, a thin squad in a sense," explained the former Derby County and Chelsea boss.

“There’s some positives to come from that in terms of everyone feels involved but over the duration of the season, of course, you get tested with games, injuries, form, all of those things. So it’s certainly something we’re looking at in January in terms of what we can do to help the squad.

“In terms of a 25 man squad, including goalkeepers, we’re at around 20. It’s really first team players without some of the youngsters who help us out in training a lot, but I think probably in the league we’re one of the leanest squads.

“It has to be to give real competition in areas or to improve in areas otherwise there’s no point. But I think for the longevity of what this season would bring, and obviously going forward, that’s always part of our conversations here.”

Coventry City will be able to recruit from a position of strength in January

This is the right approach from Lampard, who has seen a lot in the game, and he will know that Coventry can’t afford for complacency to creep in, which means they must bring in new signings during the January window.

Of course, there are still a lot of games to be played between now and January, but it would be a real surprise if the Sky Blues weren’t in the top two at the start of 2026.

That will make them a very attractive option for potential new signings, and Doug King needs to support Lampard with players to help the team get over the line.

As Lampard points out, he has been working with a relatively small squad, and, to their credit, the group have coped very well, which includes getting results without the influential Jack Rudoni over the past few months. But, a few more injuries could really hurt Coventry, which is why they will look to address that issue in January.

That doesn’t mean Coventry will be reckless, as Lampard and the recruitment team must find the right characters to fit into the squad, but it seems apparent they will be active in the market.

Interestingly, the boss didn’t rule out a move for Manneh, so it could be on that they do pursue, and, given his role in Mjallby’s title win, where he scored seven goals, it’s fair to say that it would be a real coup if Coventry manage to bring the 21-year-old to the club.