Coventry City should launch bold Aston Villa move - Frank Lampard can be key | OneFootball

Ross Barkley is a transfer target that should be on Coventry City's radar this summer

Coventry City will already be thinking about potential additions to the squad for life in the Premier League before promotion is even secured.

The Sky Blues must have plans for the summer window regardless of their league status, and their comfortable position in the table means the club have to consider how to strengthen for life in the top flight.

Frank Lampard’s side haven’t gotten over the line just yet, and there are still plenty of games remaining for Ipswich Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough to overhaul them.

However, the summer window will be so crucial to any survival attempt next season that planning has to begin as quickly as possible, so it is not presumptuous to already line up targets.

Sunderland and Leeds United both offer a possible template to follow for Coventry, with the pair of promoted sides looking likely to stay up this year if the latter can hold their nerve in the final weeks of the campaign.

There is one player in particular that Lampard should be keen to reunite with should the Sky Blues earn their place in the Premier League in the coming weeks.

Coventry must target Ross Barkley deal

Coventry should be targeting a move for Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley this summer to aid any Premier League campaign.

The 32-year-old has a contract until the summer of 2027, but he is also far down the hierarchy of Unai Emery’s side, so could be an attainable target at a reasonable cost.

The midfielder made his first Premier League start of the season only last weekend, which he marked with a goal in their 3-1 loss to Manchester United, his second strike of the campaign.

He has featured a total of 13 times in the league this year, and he’s proven quite useful for the Midlands outfit during a period of intense injury issues through their squad as they battle for a top five finish.

But, in all likelihood, he will fall back down the pecking order at Villa Park next season once that has settled, and potentially more players are signed.

This could create an opening for Coventry, and they should strike if the opportunity arises to bring Barkley to the CBS Arena.

His one-year stint at Luton Town in 2023/24 is a perfect showcase of the kind of impact he can have at a newly-promoted side looking to survive in the top flight, as he registered five goals and four assists for the Hatters.

That kind of firepower will be most welcome in Lampard's side in the Premier League, particularly as the team will need multiple sources of goals to have any chance of staying in the division.

He has performed well in the Premier League this season too, even as a secondary option, and it is exactly his kind of experience that will also help the Sky Blues in their bid to remain in the division long-term.

Given the expense of his signing is unlikely to break the bank, it could be a shrewd move to bolster their midfield options.

He would be a reasonable upgrade on somebody like Josh Eccles, which is the kind of ruthless move the club will have to make to progress, and his versatility will mean he can fill in gaps in numerous areas.

While there are sub-effects to some of his numbers this season, he has still registered 1.66 chances created per 90, including 0.55 big chances (all stats courtesy of Opta, via Fotmob).

The midfielder has also proved a reliable defensive option too, making 5.8 recoveries, winning 3.31 aerial duels and 8.01 duels per 90.

He provides Aston Villa with a lot of energy from the bench, highlighting that he has put some of his fitness issues behind him, which is the kind of concern that could derail a move like this.

Frank Lampard factor could be key to Ross Barkley deal

One factor that could help convince Barkley to join Coventry would be the prospect of reuniting with Frank Lampard.

The pair worked together at Chelsea when the 47-year-old was in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder made 21 Premier League appearances for the Blues under Lampard, and he helped the team qualify for the Champions League with a fourth place finish in 2019/20.

Barkley contributed one goal and four assists, with Chelsea also reaching the Last 16 of the European Cup that campaign.

The 32-year-old registered a total of seven goals and six assists in all competitions, and he proved a useful part of Lampard’s side, so he will surely be keen to work with him again.

Reuniting that relationship in the summer has a lot of potential, with Barkley showing at Old Trafford the impact he can still have at this level when he equalised to make it 1-1 in the second half.

While Coventry have attacking talent like Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni that they will rely on in the Premier League, that might not be enough by itself to stay up, and they will also need players that know what it takes to compete at this level in the dressing room.

Barkley has that experience in spades, and having someone with his leadership quality in the squad will be a huge asset to the club in their bid for top flight survival, should they finally escape the Championship this season.