Coventry City backed to take '£20m-£30m' if Newcastle United accelerate Jack Rudoni move | OneFootball

FLW's Coventry City fan pundit has given his verdict on Newcastle United sending scouts to watch Jack Rudoni and Carl Rushworth

Coventry City are on the cusp of earning automatic promotion to the Premier League for next season.

The Sky Blues have not competed in the top flight since 2001, and have twice come close to making their return in the last three years.

Frank Lampard oversaw a run to the play-off semi-finals last year, but a 3-2 aggregate loss to Sunderland eliminated them from contention.

Mark Robins was in charge when the club lost to Luton Town on penalties in the 2023 final after drawing 1-1.

The team need just four points from their final five games to clinch a place in the division, and a win this weekend could even be enough depending on results elsewhere.

It means planning is likely already underway for potential moves in the transfer window, although Jack Rudoni and Carl Rushworth’s futures at the CBS Arena have also become the subject of speculation amid links to Newcastle United.

Jack Rudoni transfer verdict

When asked about Rudoni potentially joining Newcastle, FLW’s Coventry fan pundit Chris Deez claimed that he’d be sad to see the playmaker go but that £20 to 30 million might be enough to do a deal.

He believes the 25-year-old is a Premier League capable player, even if it might take a year or two to establish himself in the Magpies’ side.

“I’m not surprised at all to see Newcastle linked with Rudoni and Rushworth,” Deez told Football League World.

“This is the second time now that Newcastle have been linked with Rudoni, so you would imagine it might actually lead to something this time, at least maybe an opening bid.

“I love Jack, I don’t want to see him go anywhere, but I think the sort of money that we could ask for him — anywhere between £20m-£30m — is going to be incredibly important in the Premier League.

“I really don’t want to see him go, I want to see what he can do for us in the Premier League, especially after being such an important part in getting us there in the first place.

“But, £20, 30 million is money that can be invested in a couple of players that we are going to desperately need to try and help keep our Premier League spot.

“Newcastle have got a history of developing young, good English players, even if you just look at them at the moment you’ve got Miley, they’ve got Hall, Livramento,”

“I think Rudoni, he probably wouldn’t go straight into their starting XI, I think he would take a season or two to get up to speed and to become a Premier League quality player, but he’s absolutely got it in his locker.

“He is going to go to the top eventually.”

Carl Rushworth is heading for the England national team

Meanwhile, Deez has tipped Rushworth to be the England number one within the next five years, suggesting he’s not surprised at all by the links to a team like Newcastle.

He believes that the goalkeeper would prefer to stay with Coventry next season, but that securing a deal to sign him permanently from Brighton might prove too challenging for the Sky Blues.

“Carl Rushworth, that’s the one that’s really going to break my heart,” he continued.

“He’s been so important this season, without him we would be mid-table, it’s as simple as that.

“He’s an incredible goalkeeper, he’s a top five goalkeeper in Coventry City history, I mean that.

“I will never forgive Doug King for not getting something in there in the loan agreement that at least gives us first dibs on him when promoted.

“But at the same time, can’t blame Brighton, I’m not mad at them.

“They clearly knew what they had on their hands in Rushworth, knew that he was potentially one for the future for them if they sell Verbruggen.

“And even if they don’t, there’s going to be a bidding war-and-a-half for him.

“He’s going to play for England one day, and I never say that about any Cov player, but I’ve never been more confident.

“Rushworth will eventually be England’s number one, give it maybe five years.

“And sadly for us, if he wants to achieve that, he’s going to have to leave Coventry City.

“I don’t want it to happen.

“When I say leave Coventry, I mean go back to Brighton and then, whether he goes off elsewhere or cements himself as their number one I don’t know.

“They say never fall in love with a loan player, but how could you not? The lad is absolutely incredible.

“He says all the right things, he does all the right things, he loves being here, he loves the city, he loves what we’ve helped do for his development.

“But at the end of the day, he isn’t the only one to make the decision.

“If it was up to him, he would probably stay here for at least season one in the Premier League.

“It’s going to be devastating to see him go, but I’ve never wanted anyone to succeed more than I want Rushworth to succeed.”

Rushworth has started each of Coventry’s league games so far this season, keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding 42 goals from 41 appearances.

Rudoni is in his second season at the CBS Arena after arriving from Huddersfield Town in the 2024 summer window.

The 25-year-old has contributed seven goals and five assists from 27 appearances in the Championship this season, with Coventry now on the cusp of promotion.

Next up for Lampard’s side is a home clash against Sheffield Wednesday on 11 April in a 12.30pm kick-off.

Coventry will need to be aggressive this summer to have a chance at survival

Sunderland and Leeds United offer a template for how to survive in the Premier League for Coventry, and selling Rudoni would make it tough to follow in their footsteps.

It’s clear he’s an important part of Lampard’s plans, and it should take more than £20 million to convince them to sell on that basis.

They have far less control of Rushworth’s future, and there may be nothing they can do unless they’re willing to meet the reported £20 million asking price.

However, the Sky Blues’ best chances of survival may mean investing in players like Rushworth, or else they could be a one-season wonder in the top flight.