Coventry City transfer boost? Carl Rushworth makes claim on Brighton exit | OneFootball

Carl Rushworth has dropped a fresh stance on where his immediate future may lie

Coventry City are closing in on a return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, with under two months of the Championship season to play.

Frank Lampard has enjoyed a remarkable first full campaign at the CBS Arena, with the Sky Blues responding to their second dose of play-off heartbreak in three seasons in last season's semi-finals in tremendous fashion.

City are currently nine points ahead of third-placed Millwall and have re-established a healthy eight-point advantage over nearest challengers Middlesbrough with nine matches remaining.

After enduring a minor blip at the turn of 2026, during which their healthy cushion at the top of the table evaporated for a matter of days, Coventry have gone on a six-game winning streak.

The club have been gearing towards success ever since they returned to the Championship six years ago, with the squad in this part of the West Midlands being tweaked a handful of times with strong investment from owner, Doug King.

Lampard, though, hasn't made all too many changes since he arrived in November 2024, with the ex-Chelsea and England icon certainly adopting a focus on boosting City's defensive ranks during his first pre-season in charge last summer.

One man who arrived during this period was Brighton and Hove Albion loanee, Carl Rushworth. And, it's fair to say it is a move which has benefited all parties.

As such, there is every chance the 24-year-old will be a Premier League goalkeeper in a few months' time, and he may have handed his temporary employers a significant boost with a fresh revelation.

Coventry City receive major Carl Rushworth boost amid permanent Brighton exit admission

Rushworth has been on Albion's books since joining their academy in 2019, but is yet to make a senior Seagulls appearance seven years on.

The Halifax native has enjoyed a plethora of successful loan spells in the Championship, League One and League Two in the meantime, and was even suggested to have caught the eye of England boss, Thomas Tuchel, back in November due to his standout performances for the Sky Blues.

At present, no goalkeeper in the division has a higher number of clean sheets or goals prevented, whilst the youth international also boasts one of the league's best save percentages.

Last month, the loan ace stated that he would "love" to remain in the Midlands, and has now revealed that he may have to depart the AMEX Stadium for the betterment of his career amid ambitions of becoming a top-flight and England regular.

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

"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," he added.

"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.

"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.

"I do think I'm ready and I just need the opportunity and I want to take it," Rushworth stated.

Carl Rushworth deserves a shot at the Premier League after standout EFL loans

Despite a frustrating loan stint with Hull City last season, Rushworth had previously excelled in the Championship with Swansea City two years ago.

As such, it would be extremely challenging to find many, if any at all, who wouldn't agree with the fact he deserves a shot at becoming a Premier League mainstay.

City owner, King, has also revealed that the club attempted to strike a permanent transfer for Rushworth in the summer amid a long-term injury to Oliver Dovin.

"We did try to buy him but that wasn't able to be done at the time," he explained.

"We've given him that platform and given it to Brighton as well to showcase their goalkeeper in the Championship and they should be pretty pleased with the way it's gone for us and them."

At this point, it would be a smart move for Coventry to set the wheels in motion for a permanent deal to be struck ahead of any potential rival suitors in the summer window.

That, of course, also depends on whether the Sussex side would be willing to entertain negotiations, with it being reported that Fabian Hurzeler's current 'number one', Bart Verbruggen, is the .