How Carl Rushworth feels about fresh Coventry City transfer - Doug King faces new issue | OneFootball

The Sky Blues are hoping to strike a permanent deal for the shot-stopper

Coventry City's recruitment policy in recent seasons has certainly been a key contributor as to why the West Midlands outfit are tantalisingly close to ending a 25-year wait for Premier League football.

The Sky Blues have ridden the crest of a wave in recent times, having put a largely troublesome past behind them since returning to the Championship in 2020.

They are now just a matter of weeks away from returning to English football's elite under Frank Lampard, as they sit nine points clear of Middlesbrough with seven matches remaining.

Whilst nothing is guaranteed in the promotion race at present, it is hard to envisage a world in which Coventry are caught cold by the chasing pack of the Teesside outfit, Ipswich Town and Millwall if they add to their recent form of six wins in seven games.

As such, attention has already begun to turn to the players who could be attracted to the CBS Arena in the summer transfer window in order for City to continue progressing up the ladder.

A handful of Lampard's current squad have been backed to make the step-up into the Premier League based on factors such as their current ability and future potential.

However, it is hard to pick out anyone at the top of said list that isn't Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, Carl Rushworth, who continues to impress away from the AMEX Stadium.

Ironically, the 24-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance for the Seagulls, but has attracted strong transfer interest as a result of his stellar showings for Coventry, which include 14 clean sheets so far this season and suggestions of a senior England call-up.

Whilst some may feel that a fresh revelation of Premier League interest in the youth international could cause a problem for the Sky Blues, Rushworth has offered plenty of hope to their supporters that he could remain in CV6 long-term.

What Carl Rushworth has said about permanent Coventry City, Brighton deal amid Premier League transfer interest

Rushworth has become a household name in the Championship in recent years, with his current loan spell at the CBS coming after a mixture of fortunes at Swansea City and Hull City.

It is, therefore, remarkable to some that he hasn't been granted a first-team opportunity at Brighton, seven years after he joined the club's academy.

It was recently revealed that City attempted to strike a permanent transfer for the shot-stopper in the summer but couldn't force such a deal through in time, with subsequent reports claiming that the Halifax native would set them back between £15m and £20m in a long-term switch.

At this point, Rushworth understands that, for the betterment of his career, a permanent departure from his parent club could be the best move, and that could come through an agreement with the Sky Blues.

"I understand football is never easy and simple. Sometimes you've got to be selfish, see all the opportunities on the table," he said.

"If that's here [Coventry], perfect, if it's at Brighton so be it. But if it's away from Brighton I'm happy to weigh up the option.

"I've been speaking to my agent and GG [Gordon Greer]. I'm trying to focus on the here and now but it's definitely a conversation to have," stated Rushworth.

"I want to be a Premier League goalkeeper, I want to have an established career and I want to get there as quickly as I can."

Coventry City will hope to finalise permanent Carl Rushworth deal ASAP

At this stage, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Rushworth as a potential bidding war for his signature could be in the offing.

A move between the aforementioned price points would make him Coventry's club-record signing, eclipsing the £7.7m paid for Haji Wright from Antalyaspor in 2023.

It would be a deal that makes sense for all parties, though, as City's defence wouldn't have to waste any time adjusting to new goalkeeping habits, whilst a maiden permanent transfer of his senior career would also provide Rushworth with some much-needed familiarity and continuity.