Frank Lampard reacts when asked if Coventry City will sign Chelsea attacker | OneFootball

Coventry City have been linked with the signing of Jesse Derry from Chelsea

Coventry City are just one point away from earning their place back in the Premier League after a 25-year absence.

The Sky Blues have had two narrow misses in the last three seasons, losing in the play-off final in 2023 and in the semi-finals in 2025.

Frank Lampard’s side are now on the cusp of sealing a top two finish in the Championship, and are just six points from their last four games away from even winning the title.

But the club will already have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window, with their place in the top flight all but sealed.

Coventry will be keen to build a team capable of remaining in the Premier League long-term, and they will be able to take inspiration from Sunderland and Leeds United, who look set to survive in their first years in the division.

It has been reported by Teamtalk that Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry is one of the club’s transfer targets ahead of the market opening at the end of the campaign.

Frank Lampard responds to Jesse Derry links

Lampard has claimed that Coventry aren’t that far along yet in their planning for the summer window, despite promotion being within their grasp, as he admitted that his focus is still on the remaining league games.

However, he suggested that there may be some truth to the rumours regarding their interest in the 18-year-old, who has yet to make his breakthrough in the Blues’ academy system.

When asked how far along transfer planning is, he responded, via Coventry Live: “Not that far, if I’m honest, because of the jeopardy of the season.

“I know it feels like in the last week or so things have felt more apparent but at the same time, me personally, I’ve been focussing on the job in hand.

“But in terms of individual players, I’m not saying all those rumours are false, but they’re definitely not true as a fact.

“And that’s one of the difficult things now in football, recruitment, because you’re as good as it, to a degree, because you need good players.

“And I think the club has done a really good job in terms of that at where we are in the Championship because you can see where we are in terms of what we spend etc.

“It’s not a parachute team but we’ve had our way of doing it and that’s going to change this summer, if we get to where we want to get to because the level will go up.

“So there’s a lot of work to be done but the rumours that are whirling around now, I wouldn’t hold too much to them, with respect.”

Coventry haven’t competed in the top flight since 2001, but Lampard was working as a head coach at that level as recently as 2023 with his second stint in charge at Chelsea.

While he began his managerial career in the Championship with Derby County, he went on to become Chelsea boss in 2019, before returning in 2023 after a spell in charge at Everton in between.

This will be his first time winning promotion to the Premier League as a manager, with his side needing just one point from their final four fixtures.

Meanwhile, Derry has impressed at underage level for Chelsea, but has yet to feature for the top flight side in the league.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut in a 4-0 win against Hull City in the FA Cup earlier this season, also featuring in their 4-2 victory against Wrexham in the fifth round of the competition.

Next up for Coventry is a trip to face Blackburn Rovers on Friday night in an 8pm kick-off.

Jesse Derry signing could be smart business but won’t be enough for Premier League survival

Derry joining on loan could be a shrewd move by Coventry, if he can make the transition to senior football smoothly.

However, the club will need to invest in the first team squad to a much greater degree than that to survive.

Lampard will know this all too well, and that experience of what it takes to compete at the highest level will be an important factor in their transfer recruitment.

It is still only April, so not having all of their targets lined up is no real issue, and that work will really begin in earnest once their place in the top two is sealed.