Exclusive: Coventry City "more attractive" than Norwich City in the battle to sign ex-Burnley star | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman exclusively tells FLW what he thinks to Anass Zaroury coming back to England.

Former Burnley winger Anass Zaroury could be set for a return to the Championship this summer, with Coventry and Norwich City both reportedly interested in the Lens man.

Zaroury has struggled to make his mark in Ligue 1 following his reported €5m move from the Clarets last August, making just four goal contributions in 28 games - two goals and two assists.

Coventry City are interested in signing the 24-year-old Moroccan international alongside Norwich City, according to French outlet L'Équipe.

Having the ability to play both as an attacking midfielder and on the left, Zaroury has been linked with a potential return after apparently failing to convince new Lens manager Pierre Sage, who joined the club at the end of May.

Don Goodman feels Coventry City are "slightly ahead" of Norwich City in Anass Zaroury race

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes Coventry City would be the more attractive proposition for Zaroury compared to Norwich City.

"Probably Coventry are perhaps slightly ahead of Norwich in regards to recent history and their opportunities to be towards the very top of the Championship," Goodman told FLW.

"So if it was the case of the player got to choose, then maybe, in respect to Norwich, Coventry might be slightly more attractive," he added.

Last season, Frank Lampard guided the Sky Blues from two points off the drop when he came in, to fifth place and into the play-offs - Norwich City finished 12 points behind them in 13th.

Lampard's tactical approach at the CBS Arena has seen attacking, possession-based football become the norm - with real importance put on getting the ball out wide and being aggressive when pressing.

Although the 47-year-old favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, he has switched to a three-back when necessary - and both systems would suit Zaroury's ability to play in multiple positions.

Goodman, who made over 500 appearances in the Football League during his playing career, says any Championship club would be wise to take a chance on the Moroccan.

"But, any club that potentially could get the best out of a 24-year-old that has already shone - albeit two, three seasons ago - in the Championship, it’s a gamble that you’d definitely take."

For Burnley, in the 22/23 campaign, Zaroury scored seven goals and managed five assists in the league as he helped the Clarets win promotion to the Premier League as they stormed to the second tier title under Vincent Kompany.

Championship return makes sense for Zaroury

At 24, Zaroury still has his best years ahead of him, and a return to the Championship could reignite his career.

In the two full seasons since that fruitful season, he's only managed to score a total of four goals for three different sides - Burnley, Lens and Hull City - he signed for the Tigers on a short-term loan in the second half of the 23/24 campaign.

For Lampard, adding Zaroury's pace and creativity to an already impressive attack featuring the likes of Ephron Mason-Clark and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto would definitely provide the quality in depth needed for another promotion push.

The Canaries have already completed the signings of Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby for a reported £6.9m and Papa Diallo from Metz, who can both play on the left - Zaroury's preferred position.

With the summer window still open until 1 September, perhaps Coventry will be the ones pushing for a move more than Norwich, with Goodman feeling that the Sky Blues would be the slightly better option.