Frank Lampard has decided on his first January transfer, as Coventry City owner Doug King gives the ex-Chelsea midfielder tremendous encouragement ahead of the winter window.
Coventry City owner Doug King is ready to back Frank Lampard in the January transfer window as the Sky Blues aim to return to the Premier League.
Despite losing 2-0 to promotion rivals Ipswich on Monday, the Sky Blues remain eight points ahead at the top of the Championship table and are in pole position to gain promotion to the top flight. Lampard, on the other hand, is eager to strengthen his squad in order to increase their chances of finishing in the top two.
According to The Guardian, King is willing to give City manager Lampard a big transfer budget in order to strengthen their squad for the rest of the season. The Sky Blues spent just £8 million on Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Luke Woolfenden this summer, with the majority of their other transfers coming on loan or for free.
Lampard is said to be looking to reinforce in wide areas, with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark the club’s only recognised wingers. Midfielder Jack Rudoni, 24, is also said to be concerned about his fitness, having missed two months earlier this season due to a calf problem.
Lampard may look for more cover for Rudoni, who has struggled to recover his form from last season, when he scored 10 goals and assisted 13 times in 50 games across all competitions.
In addition, City are thought to be interested on signing Lampard to a long-term contract. The ex-Chelsea midfielder has 18 months remaining on his present contract, and King hopes he will commit his future to the club.
Lampard’s record at Coventry – 32 wins and 12 draws in 59 games – has sparked interest elsewhere, but he is said to be ‘happy’ at the Sky Blues and grateful to King for giving him the opportunity to restart his managerial career after a disastrous spell as caretaker manager at Chelsea.
City will aim to rebound from their defeat against Ipswich as they travel to struggling Charlton on New Year’s Day. Following the loss against the Tractor Boys, Lampard stated: “Yeah, we didn’t play as well as we generally do, and we came up against a good club, a powerful team in this league. Everyone knows this.
“And they play well, so sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition, and I believe we were a little off in terms of energy and bravery to play like we normally do.
“And they had a sense of control over the game in the first half. We pulled that back a little in the second half when we had more momentum, but it wasn’t us as usual tonight, and sometimes you credit the opposition.”
He went on to say, “It may happen. It’s not anything like chronic that will become a thing now. It’s just one of those days when a strong team comes along and defeats us. We must take it on the chin, remain humble, and continue to work with the purpose of achieving what we desire.”
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