According to reports, Coventry City is once again in the driver’s seat in negotiations to sign Gambian attacker Abdoulie Manneh from Swedish champions Mjallby AIF.

Ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, the Sky Blues have surpassed their Championship rivals, Stoke City, in the race for the Gambian’s signature, according to a report from Swedish publication Fotboll Direkt. The Potters have emerged as possible rivals in this transfer battle after their Midlands rivals first showed interest.

Frank Lampard’s league-leading team and their former manager, Mark Robins, are currently engaged in more than just this matchup. On Saturday afternoon, the CV6 team extended their lead at the top of the second tier table to five points with a thrilling victory at the Bet365 Stadium, thanks to an incredible goal from Ephron Mason-Clark that left Viktor Johansson with no chance.

As result, Stoke lost out of the automatic promotion places heading into the current, and final, international break of 2025 with Middlesbrough leapfrogging the Reds after their 2-1 success against Birmingham City at the Riverside Stadium.

It should come as no surprise that Coventry and Stoke have received a lot of plaudits from fans and commentators so far for different reasons. The Sky Blues have scored an incredible 40 goals in just 15 games, while Robins’ team has relied heavily on defense.

Although it is obvious that both teams are looking for attacking reinforcements, the most recent developments regarding Manneh will undoubtedly cause conflict.

In the transfer battle for Mjallby AIF forward Abdoulie Manneh, Coventry City leads Stoke City. Coventry City vs. Sheffield United: Frank Lampard

In fact, after scoring seven goals during his current employers’ underdog title-winning campaign, it was first reported last Tuesday that Coventry was apparently in talks with the Allsvenskan champions about Manneh’s possible maiden move to English football.

This followed earlier claims that the Gambian had caught the attention of Premier League teams including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton & Hove Albion, AFC Bournemouth, and Burnley in the summer.

Then, according to Fotboll Direkt, talks had stalled, allowing Stoke to show interest in signing the 21-year-old. They then disclosed that they intend to get in touch with Mjallby, who is seeking a move worth around £3.6 million.

However, in a fresh update regarding this ongoing transfer battle, the same publication has since reported that Coventry could soon outmuscle their divisional rivals in attempting to lure the versatile figure to the CBS, with Lampard’s side said to be the club who Manneh and Mjallby are interested in opening talks with.

Since arriving from Gambian team Wallidan in the summer of 2024, Manneh, a left-sided winger by preference, has made 58 appearances for his current team, tallying 12 goals and dishing out four assists.

With a hat-trick and two more assists on his Gambian debut, which took place during a 7-0 thumping of Seychelles, he has also made an impact on his native nation.

Coventry City’s move for Abdoulie Manneh could strengthen their already potent assault.

Despite it seems as though Coventry are sure to escape a 25-year exile from the Premier League, it must be acknowledged that Lampard doesn’t have the biggest squad in the world at his disposal.

Thus, signing a versatile player like Manneh would only provide enough depth and quality—two qualities that promotion-chasing teams need to thrive over the demanding winter months.

Given the teams who have expressed interest in the past or are rumored to be interested now, City might pull off a huge transfer coup and add more goals to their roster in addition to Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Haji Wright.