Carl Rushworth makes claim on future Coventry City, Brighton transfer | OneFootball

The Brighton loanee has been a key part of Frank Lampard’s squad this season

Coventry City loanee Carl Rushworth has revealed he’d “love” to stay at the club beyond his current temporary terms.

The 24-year-old is on loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, and has been Frank Lampard’s primary gloveman throughout the campaign, a key contributor to their current position in the table.

Entering a new stage of seniority in his career, naturally his thoughts are turning to where he might fit into the footballing landscape on a more permanent basis, following loans with a number of English sides.

In a fresh interview, the Halifax-born goalkeeper has revealed his thoughts on the matter.

Carl Rushworth reveals he’d “love” to stay at Coventry City

In a recent sit-down media interview, Rushworth outlined his ambition to have a career in the Premier League and potentially one day with the England national team.

With the Sky Blues challenging for promotion in the Championship this season, the natural next question is whether he’d consider extending his stay in Coventry with a permanent move, were it to be on the table.

“If the option was there, then 100 per cent,” Rushworth replied with a smile on his face. “I’d love to.

“Like I said, I love everything about the club, how it’s run, down to the people, the backroom staff, everything, area.

“So, if it’s an opportunity, if we do make that little bit of history, and we’re in the Premier League next season, then I’d love to.”

While it seems that Rushworth is keen to make such a call conditional on the league the Sky Blues are in, it’s difficult to ignore the connection he has built with the club during his short time on loan there.

Not only his age, but Rushworth’s contract situation could soon provoke a review of his current place in Brighton’s plans.

His current deal runs until the summer of 2027, with a club option for an additional year, which means conversations are likely to happen this summer about where both parties stand.

If the club are not planning to activate that optional year, then this summer could be the best time to sell Rushworth, as his value will dramatically drop as his contract runs down.

The Seagull’s are relatively blessed in the goalkeeper department, with their current no.1, Bart Verbruggen, now part of the furniture in the Premier League.

The Dutchman looks unlikely to be unseat any time soon, and being a year younger than Rushworth, that makes his route to the top tier with Brighton look uncertain, and that’s before mentioning that they have another young goalkeeper, James Beadle, impressing out on loan with Birmingham City.

It is time for Carl Rushworth to find his permanent home

That all adds together to create a picture that points to Rushworth finding his permanent home away from Brighton sometime soon.

He’ll be under no illusions that his path to first-team minutes at the Amex looks remote, and it won’t serve his career to go back and be an understudy to Verbruggen, likely waiting for an injury to create a gap that may never arrive.

Rushworth at Coventry has proven that he is capable of operating at the top of the Championship and, given that he’s progressed each season with loans throughout the English pyramid and is still very young for a goalkeeper, it stands to reason that he will soon be ready to test himself at the top level.

That is unlikely to be with Brighton, but could well be with a promoted side, which Coventry have every chance of being if they maintain the form they showed in the first half of the season.

With the relationship he’s built with the Coventry fanbase, and their current short-term potential, it’s a no-brainer that Rushworth can see himself sticking around at the CBS Arena.