Coventry City and Swansea in transfer race for ex-Celtic FC star | OneFootball

Coventry City and Swansea are both reportedly interested in the potential loan acquisition of Charlotte FC attacker Liel Abada

Coventry City and Swansea are set to battle it out for the signing of ex-Celtic star Liel Adaba in the January transfer window, with the winger's availability putting a host of Championship suitors on red alert.

As reported on Friday via Sky Sports' Live Transfer Centre by Lyall Thomas, the two second-tier sides are among those pursuing a move for Abada this month after the 24-year-old was made available for a potential return to the British Isles by MLS outfit Charlotte FC.

This has encouraged interest from Coventry and Swansea, who are both poised to tussle together for Abada's signature despite finding themselves in contrasting league positions.

Coventry, of course, have displayed electric form under Frank Lampard this term, and remain firm favourites to clinch the Championship title with an almighty eight-point advantage over second-placed Ipswich Town.

Swansea, meanwhile, have struggled too much for consistency to mount a potential play-off push and are currently positioned in 16th, although fears over relegation have been alleviated in recent times amid resurgent form following the appointment of Vitor Matos.

Now, the ex-Liverpool coach is bidding to get to work on completing his first signings in South Wales by targeting a move for Abada, in which competition will be presented by league leaders Coventry and more.

Coventry City and Swansea City in transfer race for ex-Celtic star Liel Abada

As per the aforementioned update, Coventry and Swansea are among a litany of Championship clubs lining up loan swoops for Abada in this month's transfer window.

It's said that the Israeli wide-man has been given the green-light to seal a temporary switch back over the Atlantic for the remainder of the campaign, which is due to the MLS season not restarting until March.

Coventry's interest in Abada comes amid the Sky Blues' well-documented intentions to bolster the wide areas as a Premier League return edges ever closer, with Crystal Palace winger Romain Esse having also been linked with a move to the CBS Arena of late.

Swansea are also looking to strengthen in this area of the pitch, however, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is said to be another target. As exclusively revealed by Football League World back in the summer, the Swans were interested in the Crystal Palace attacker before he secured a late-window loan move to Turkish side Rizespor, though he could return and head elsewhere this month.

Charlotte FC's Liel Abada could be an excellent signing for Coventry City or Swansea

Abada has endured a mixed time of it in the MLS after departing Celtic in March of last year, returning 14 goals and four assists from 66 appearances.

He was in and out of Dean Smith's side during the 2024 campaign as he struck on just five occasions in 34 league games, and does not appear to figure strongly in the thinking of the ex-Aston Villa boss' long-term plans at Charlotte.

But Abada was electric in his first two seasons at Celtic, hitting double figures in goals across all competitions while racking up a combined 17 assists, too. The 18-cap Israeli international went off the boil in his third and final term at Parkhead before jetting off for the MLS, though if he were to rediscover his former Celtic form, he could prove an inspired acquisition for just about any Championship side in the coming weeks.

It's a signing which would be accompanied by a certain degree of risk factor, despite the deal only being viewed as a temporary one, but the gamble is perhaps worth taking from either Coventry or Swansea.