Coventry City eyeing £6.7m transfer raid for ex-Watford star | OneFootball

Coventry City could be prepared to splash the cash on former Watford winger Matheus Martins this summer

Coventry City are gearing towards a hugely-significant summer transfer window as owner Doug King looks to afford the requisite backing to Frank Lampard for his side to re-establish themselves at Premier League level after ending their 25-year top-flight exile as Championship title winners in 2025/26.

The Sky Blues previously tasted heartbreak in both the play-off semi-finals and even at Wembley itself in 2023, but no such fate was suffered in Lampard's first full campaign at the CBS Arena as the West Midlands side romped to the league title.

Coventry exerted a sense of dominance and strength that never really looked at risk of compromise, made all the more impressive given they are not in receipt of parachute payments.

King, however, will now have a healthy transfer kitty at his disposal as he bids to arm Lampard with a squad capable of competing in the promised land and staving off an instant return to the Championship, with a crucial summer window awaiting City.

Heading into the summer months, the rumour mill is already serving to intensify and a host of links have emerged, with England international duo James Maddison and Mason Mount among those tipped to make a potential to Coventry alongside reported interest in the likes of Juventus striker Lois Openda, AZ Alkmaar's Troy Parrott and Abdul Fatawu of Leicester City.

There's no denying that Coventry are going to be extremely busy in this summer's window, and as it edges ever closer, an ex-Watford player has transpired as the latest individual to be linked with a potential switch to Lampard's side.

Coventry City eyeing transfer for ex-Watford star Matheus Martins

The player in question is Botafogo winger Matheus Martins, who previously spent time on loan in the Championship with Watford and is now claimed to be on the radar of Coventry according to a recent report by Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.

As per that update, Coventry are among a number of clubs eyeing a move for Martins' signature, which is also receiving interest from continental suitors such as Celta Vigo, Feyenoord and reigning Russian top-flight champions Krasnodar.

Botafogo appear to be in a difficult position regarding Martins' future, with the report detailing that the Brazilian outfit are willing to sanction a sale for a sum of €8m (£6.7m) despite shelling out €10m (£8.4m) for his services in 2024.

However, it's said that Botafogo still owe Udinese around €6m (£5m) from the transfer, and while FIFA are believed to be investigating the case, financial pressure is seemingly behind the possibility of Martins being sold back to Europe in a cut-price deal this summer.

It was through Udinese where the former Brazil youth international rocked up at Watford on loan for the second-half of the 2022/23 campaign before spending the entirety of the following season with the Vicarage Road outfit.

Martins made 49 appearances throughout his time with the Hornets and scored five league goals in 2023/24 before returning to his native Brazil, having previously turned out for Fluminense.

The gifted left-sided winger has endured mixed form at Botafogo, finding the back of the net on just nine occasions from 81 outings at the time of writing.

Currently sidelined with a minor muscle injury, it remains to be seen whether Martins has played his final game for Fogão amid mounting interest.

Coventry City could aim higher than Matheus Martins

Martins displayed glimpses of real promise while on loan at Watford, but from afar, it feels as though the wide-man has perhaps struggled to kick on since returning to Brazil, where he hasn't exactly put together the body of work that would embolden him as a player capable of making a decisive impact in Coventry's Premier League survival efforts.

The former Watford loanee is clearly talented and a move would be accompanied by undeniable potential long-term upside, although Coventry find themselves in need of reared-and-readied signings.

Somebody like the aforementioned Fatawu, for example, would represent a much stronger addition to bolster Coventry's wide areas over Martins.

Equally, though, Sky Blues supporters will trust Lampard's judgement and if the ex-Chelsea and Everton boss believes that Martins would indeed be a good fit, he'll have the backing of the CBS Arena faithful.