What Doug King has said about Coventry potentially re-signing Carl Rushworth this summer | OneFootball

Coventry owner Doug King has provided an update on the club's ambition to potentially re-sign Carl Rushworth this summer

Coventry City owner Doug King has provided an update on the situation involving Carl Rushworth, as the Sky Blues push to keep the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee at the club beyond this campaign.

It has been an excellent season for Coventry, who have one foot in the Premier League with seven games to go.

Under the guidance of former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard, the Sky Blues stormed out of the blocks at the beginning of the season, and though they have endured a couple of rough patches of form since, they have largely maintained their place at the division's summit.

With the prospects of Premier League football increasing week by week, planning for what the summer window may look like has already begun, with a large focus on the goalkeeper position.

Carl Rushworth joined on loan last summer from Brighton to replace the injured Oliver Dovin, and has excelled at the CBS Arena, leading to the club reportedly pushing for a permanent deal for the 24-year-old this summer.

Coventry owner Doug King provides an update on Carl Rushworth's transfer speculation

With the Sky Blues' intent of bringing Rushworth to the club permanently this summer on display for everyone to see, owner Doug King has provided an update regarding the keepers' transfer speculation.

With Dovin having suffered a long-term injury in the latter stages of last campaign, a new signing between the sticks during the summer was a priority, and Rushworth was outlined as a top target, with King saying, "It’s on the record that I did try to buy Carl. And obviously it didn’t get done. Brighton valued him highly and weren’t there to sell him at that point, and he’s their player.

"So he’ll go back on June 30, hopefully after a promotion season with Coventry where he’s had a great time and we’ve allowed him to showcase his talents, and he’s supported us to get where we want to get to. And we’ll see how it goes, right?

"I mean, he’s one of the players who is not contracted to Coventry City but he’s worked as though he is and that’s what I needed him to do. And I think we’ve been a great place for him to show what he can do at the top of the Championship and the top of the league for the most part of the season."

Of course, King will be one of the first people in this situation to not get ahead of themselves, and has remained relatively tight-lipped about a potential return of Rushworth this summer, whilst clearly stating his intent to bring him back.

Coventry's chances of a return for the Englishman increase tenfold should they secure promotion, though Brighton's stance on him remains unknown at this stage, as it may well be in Fabian Hurzeler's plans to keep him next year.

In any instance, the Sky Blues will push for a summer return of Rushworth, and King will spearhead any potential move.

Carl Rushworth has been exceptional for Coventry City this season

Since replacing Dovin between the sticks this campaign, Rushworth has done an incredible job, and is a large reason as to why Coventry find themselves on the brink of promotion at this stage.

According to FotMob, Rushworth's 6.9 prevented goals this season is the best among goalkeepers in the Championship, ahead of Stoke City's Viktor Johansson and Derby County's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

It's therefore little surprise as to why Coventry would be so keen to bring him back for their return to the Premier League next season.

Rushworth showed previous glimpses of his talent in loan spells with the likes of Walsall, Lincoln City, Swansea City, and Hull City, but has taken his game to the next level at the CBS Arena.

The only sticking point Coventry may face in negotiations this summer is whether Brighton would be willing to sell, with each of Dutch number one Bart Verbruggen, England's recent call-up Jason Steele, and Birmingham City loanee James Beadle in their ranks.

Coventry will be hoping Rushworth is not picked to be their main man out of the bunch for next year, as the Sky Blues can complete arguably their most important signing of the summer in the 24-year-old.