Coventry City transfer claim dropped after beating Birmingham City to deal - "Doug King was haggling" | OneFootball

Coventry City have beaten Birmingham City to the signature of Frank Onyeka this winter

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Championship leaders Coventry City completed a deadline-day deal for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka, with the Nigerian international signing on loan until the end of the season, beating Birmingham City to his signature.

Having been the fastest team out of the blocks in the first half of the season, Coventry's lead at the top of the table has been cut by Middlesbrough, with the two clubs merely separated by just goal difference at this stage on 58 points.

A run of just three wins in nine has seen their lead at the summit of the table completely cut, though there is still much to be optimistic about for Sky Blues supporters.

Having completed the signings of Min-Hyeok Yang on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Romain Esse on loan from Crystal Palace, and Jahnoah Markelo on a permanent deal from Swiss side FC Zurich, Frank Lampard's side completed a last-minute deal for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka.

The Nigerian, who had been heavily courted by division rivals Birmingham City, has joined the club on loan until the end of the season, with the deal becoming permanent should Coventry be promoted to the Premier League.

Coventry City pipped Birmingham City to the signature of Frank Onyeka on loan from Brentford this window

Football League World's Coventry fan pundit, Chris Deez, has shared their thoughts on the signing of Onyeka and whether the Nigerian can make the difference in the middle of the park for the Sky Blues.

And despite positive vibes over the addition, Deez has questioned whether owner Doug King could've got the deal done sooner than deadline day to try and help Frank Lampard out a bit more on the pitch.

Chris told FLW: "I think the vast majority of Coventry fans would agree that it was a pretty poor transfer window for us, just like it was in the summer as well. But we're obviously ecstatic to have got Frank Onyeka over the line - it's a shame it took so long."It was pretty obvious for the last few weeks that it was going to come down to money, and that Doug King was haggling on every possible penny that he could. But all that matters is that we've got our man."I feel a little bit bad for him because it's great that everybody's going to get behind him and everybody's happy that he's here, and we've been excited to get the deal over the line, but there's a lot of pressure on him now."The fact that he's the only real player that's come in that's going to plug that gap that we've got in midfield and help out with all the defensive issues that we've had, that's a really big, a really tall task for one man."I've seen plenty of hype videos and stuff about how great he was at AFCON and all the stuff that he's done for Brentford in the Premier League. It's great that he's got that Premier League experience, don't get me wrong, but I've seen both sides of it from Brentford fans."Some of them have said how great he is, how hard he works. Some of them have said how he's a bit like a headless chicken, just running all over the place. But to be honest, I think we need a little bit of that. We need a bit of a headless chicken so that then Grimes alongside him can just, he can be Matt Grimes again."He can be the engine room, he can be the dictator, he can control the flow of the game like we're so used to him doing. It gives him a chance to sort of sit back and play in his natural role that he hasn't really been doing since about the start, maybe the middle of November."We definitely needed more help in other positions as well. We needed something in defence, but it is what it is, we are where we are, and we've just got to get behind the team, get behind Onyeka."Hopefully, he can make the difference. I think he will make a big difference. I don't know if it's going to be enough of a difference."

Frank Onyeka has the potential to make the difference for Frank Lampard in Coventry City's midfield

The arrival of Onyeka, by all accounts, could be huge for Coventry, who have found themselves lacking a physical presence in the middle of the park since the departure of Ben Sheaf to Wrexham in the summer.

Matt Grimes has played almost every minute at the base of Lampard's midfield this season, though neither Victor Torp, Josh Eccles, nor Jamie Allen has been able to nail down the place next to the former Swansea City man.

Onyeka, who has played just six top-flight games this campaign under Keith Andrews, brings a dominant presence in the middle of the park that Coventry have sorely lacked, especially in recent weeks.

Capped 41 times by Nigeria, having been a regular fixture for the Super Eagles at the most recent AFCON, Onyeka has the potential to be a complete game-changer for Coventry, with his ability to break up play allowing midfield partner Grimes to dictate the game.

Coventry will be eager to put this most recent blip in form behind them, and Onyeka, at 28, could well prove to be the difference between promotion and remaining in the second tier.