2 players that Coventry City should look to sign before September 1 deadline ft Chris Mepham | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at two players Coventry City should look to sign ahead of the summer transfer deadline.

There's less than a week left of the summer transfer window, and Coventry City have been among the least busy sides in the Championship this season.

There are plenty of reasons why that may be the case though.

Firstly, it's been reported that Doug King's purchase of the CBS Arena set him back up to £40 million, and ultimately, ensuring Coventry play in a ground which they own is more important than any player addition.

But also, it's arguable that there weren't many upgrades needed in Frank Lampard's side. The Sky Blues picked up just three fewer points than Sheffield United in the time since the former Chelsea boss took over, and were a Dan Ballard 122nd-minute winner away from taking their play-off semi-final against Sunderland to penalties.

The only need to upgrade, in that sense, would come if anyone left. Milan van Ewijk was the one man many expected to depart, and although it's taken until late in the window for a deal to advance for the sale of the Dutchman, the arrival of Kaine Kesler-Hayden ensured that the right-back position would be well-stocked in advance.

Saying that, there's always room to improve what you have, and if Lampard was on the hunt for any more additions this summer, these two players could be on his list.

Chris Mepham - AFC Bournemouth

If there was a weakness in the Coventry side last season, it was in defence.

The Sky Blues scored a fourth-best 64 last season, but their 58 goals conceded landed them in mid-table across the whole league.

Bobby Thomas is among the better Championship-level centre-backs, but he's been linked with a move away this summer. Regardless of this, though, a loan move for Bournemouth's Chris Mepham should be considered.

Mepham excelled on loan with Sunderland last season and was a big part of their backline, playing alongside either Luke O'Nien or Ballard throughout the campaign.

In the play-off final, he was brought on inside eight minutes and helped the side achieve Premier League promotion.

The Welshman has been involved with either top-end Championship sides or Premier League teams all his whole career, and the promotion mentality of the 27-year-old, who has achieved that feat twice in his career now, would be a massive boost for a Coventry side looking to get back into the top flight for the first time since the 2000/01 season.

Mepham was left out of Bournemouth's opening two games of the 2025/26 campaign, so it seems he's once again unfavoured at the Vitality Stadium, and Frank Lampard's side should swoop in and take his services for the year.

Jon Russell - Barnsley

Frank Lampard's system allows for his midfielders to pick up several goals and assists, and whilst many would say that the current middle pack at the CBS Arena is incredibly solid, someone like Jon Russell would be able to fit in among them.

Last season, Barnsley's Russell exploded with an 11-goal campaign from midfield, which included five in his last five games.

The 24-year-old hasn't been favoured so far by Conor Hourihane in League One this season, however, which may come as a surprise. In his one start in the EFL Cup, Russell netted against Fleetwood Town.

The Jamaican international has plenty of promise and could excel in a Coventry side where goalscoring opportunities are plentiful amongst the midfielders, and he's also out of contract next summer too, so he could be brought in for a cut-price fee.

Last season, Jack Rudoni enjoyed a breakout year in the Championship, netting nine and grabbing 12 assists, alongside a goal in the play-offs, too. So far this year, he's picked up two goals in their 7-1 demolition of Queens Park Rangers.

Meanwhile, Victor Torp has started the season incredibly well, picking up three in as many games, including, like Rudoni, a couple against QPR.

Alongside Matt Grimes, Torp and Rudoni are an incredible midfield trio, but Russell could easily slot into either of their roles and be able to continue that goalscoring threat throughout a long season, a quality which Lampard arguably lacks in his depth options from the bench.