West Ham plot Coventry City transfer - Frank Lampard must brace for approach | OneFootball

It has been reported that West Ham United are interested in signing Coventry City centre-back Bobby Thomas in the January transfer window.

It has been a difficult month or so for Coventry City and the Sky Blues will be keen to get through the January transfer window without too much damage to their impressive squad, but reports are suggesting that West Ham United are keen on centre-back Bobby Thomas.

In what is Frank Lampard’s first full season in charge of Coventry, having led them to the play-off semi-finals last season, the midlanders have performed extremely well, still having a six-point lead at the top-of-the-table.

That tally has been being shaved in the last month or so and they are just eight points clear of third place now. Third place being occupied by an Ipswich Town side that have done the double over them during their mid-season blip.

In fact, a 1-0 defeat to former manager Mark Robins and his Stoke City side at the Bet365 Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend means that Coventry have now managed just two victories, both unconvincing 1-0 home wins against Bristol City and Swansea City, in their last nine matches.

Keeping calm and ensuring everything stays intact will be a key element of Lampard’s job over the next few weeks and so reported interest in Thomas from the Premier League will be something of an irritation.

West Ham keen on Coventry defender Bobby Thomas

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have added Coventry centre-back Bobby Thomas to their list of defensive targets in the January transfer window.

Within the report they say that Thomas, who came through the academy at Burnley, has attracted the attention of other Premier League sides, such as Everton.

Perhaps fortunately for Coventry, as they seek to resist the temptation of any potential offer from the Hammers, West Ham have a few other defensive targets, such as Newcastle United club captain Jamaal Lascelles, Braga defender Bright Arrey-Mbi and former Millwall loanee Charlie Cresswell, now of Toulouse.

Bobby Thomas arrived at Coventry from Burnley in the summer of 2023 for an undisclosed fee, having spent the previous season out on loan at Bristol Rovers and then with Barnsley.

The 24-year-old Chester-born centre-back has been a key cog in Lampard’s side, making 24 appearances thus far, albeit he was most recently sent off in their 3-2 loss away at Birmingham City.

Coventry’s other defensive options if Bobby Thomas goes

In the summer transfer window, Coventry pursued Ipswich Town centre-back Luke Woolfenden and eventually managed to pull off his signing on a permanent basis.

Thomas’ former Barnsley teammate Liam Kitching is also a central defensive option but the reason for the pursuit of Woolfenden was because the depth in that position was not necessarily there for the Championship leaders.

Joel Latibeaudiere has been more on the fringes of things at the Coventry Building Society Arena, while Jake Bidwell has evolved into more of a central defender but primarily still preferred on the left of a back three rather than a two.

So far in this winter window, Coventry have been able to strengthen in attacking positions with the arrivals of Romain Esse and Yang Min-hyeok on loan deals from Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.