Coventry City must consider West Ham raid for ex-Leicester star as Carl Rushworth backup plan | OneFootball

Coventry City are locked in talks with Carl Rushworth over a permanent deal, but should they consider a move for West Ham's Mads Hermansen instead?

It's been a season to remember for Coventry City, as they clinched promotion into the Premier League after a hugely impressive campaign.

Not many would have predicted that the Sky Blues would dominate for the majority of the season, especially when you factor in that there are many other teams in the Championship with a larger budget to work with.

However, Frank Lampard certainly got the best out of the players available to him, and the former Derby County boss has made a name for himself in the second tier once again.

Lampard will be well-aware of the challenge ahead with Coventry though, as they look to adjust to life in the top-flight, which is never a simple task for promoted clubs.

The Sky Blues won't be wanting to become somewhat of a 'yo-yo club', and so it's important that they recruit smartly this summer, as they look to retain their Premier League status for the foreseeable future.

A goalkeeper should be on Coventry City's wishlist with Carl Rushworth future uncertain

One of Coventry City's key players in their promotion-winning campaign has been Carl Rushworth, with the shot-stopper being ever-present in Frank Lampard's starting XI.

The goalkeeper is currently on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, and is set to return to the AMEX this summer once that loan spell reaches a conclusion.

It's recently been reported by journalist Alex Crook that Rushworth's representatives are set to meet with Coventry to discuss a potential permanent deal for the 24-year-old, although it remains to be seen whether any progress has been made with those talks.

Rushworth is likely to be in-demand from other clubs, and you'd imagine that he'll be wanting to play regularly at the highest possible level moving forward, and so it'll be interesting to see where he ends up ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Coventry should be looking at alternatives to Rushworth in case an agreement can't be reached, and there will be plenty of options that the Sky Blues can turn to this summer.

Coventry should consider move for West Ham shot-stopper Mads Hermansen

West Ham still have plenty to play for this season, as they're battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League. One player that hasn't been in favour throughout the season with the Hammers is Mads Hermansen, and it'll be interesting to see what the future holds for the 25-year-old.

The Danish international was second-choice shot-stopper for West Ham in the first-half of the season, but has started to pick up game time in recent months, which will be pleasing for him. However, his future could be unclear if Nuno Espírito Santo's side are to be relegated this term.

Hermansen has shown he can perform to a high standard against some of the best players in the world, having kept Manchester City at bay earlier this year, as West Ham earned a point in an entertaining 1-1 draw on home soil.

He made five saves in total, and that point could be crucial in West Ham's battle to avoid the drop, in a battle that seems to be going right down to the wire.

The Dan still has four years remaining on his contract after arriving last summer from Leicester City for £20 million, but he'll be wanting to play his football at the highest possible level, and Coventry could offer him that, as well as the Sky Blues being able to guarantee him a starting spot.

He's had to challenge Alphonse Aréola for the starting spot in the West Ham team this season, and if they're to be relegated, you'd imagine that Hermansen could have his head turned relatively easily.

Hermansen has previously been on the books with Coventry's rivals, Leicester City, as he spent two years with the Foxes, which had plenty of highs and lows. He won promotion in his first season with Leicester, before being relegated back into the Championship just one year later, before departing in favour of a move to West Ham in the summer of 2025.

Coventry should consider making a move for a player of Hermansen's quality, especially considering that any potential agreement is likely to cost significantly less than a deal for Carl Rushworth at Brighton & Hove Albion.

There's not much more frustrating than pursuing a player for a considerable amount of time, only for them to move elsewhere, and there will be a fear in the back of Coventry fans' heads that they could be facing that with Rushworth. They say that you should never fall in love with a loan player, but the shot-stopper has certainly made it hard for them not to feel that way.

If a move for Rushworth does fail to materialise, then Coventry shouldn't waste any time in turning their attentions to Hermansen, who has won promotion into the Premier League earlier in his career, as well as playing consistently in the top-flight, so he has the required experience.