Coventry City are considering a permanent move for Carl Rushworth this summer, but only if they secure promotion to the Premier League.
According to talkSPORT, the Sky Blues are eager to retain the goalkeeper beyond his current loan deal from Brighton after an impressive campaign so far. Rushworth has started all 21 league matches since arriving from the Seagulls, conceding 22 goals and keeping eight clean sheets — the highest total in the Championship.
The 24-year-old has been a key figure in Frank Lampard’s side as Coventry push for automatic promotion, with their strong early-season form putting them firmly in contention for a top-two finish.
Promotion key to permanent move
Coventry’s interest in a long-term deal is heavily dependent on their promotion hopes. While Lampard guided the club to a fifth-place finish last season, a play-off defeat to Sunderland kept them in the second tier.
This season, however, the Sky Blues have made a flying start and will sit top of the table on Christmas Day regardless of weekend results, strengthening belief that a return to the Premier League is achievable.
Brighton’s stance on a permanent transfer remains unclear, though Rushworth has yet to establish himself at the Amex Stadium. The Seagulls are unable to recall him during the January window, ensuring he will remain at the CBS Arena until the end of the season.
Coventry’s next league outing sees them travel to St Mary’s to face Southampton on December 20 in a 12:30pm kick-off.
Why keeping Rushworth makes sense
Despite a handful of minor mistakes, Rushworth has been a dependable presence in goal and still has plenty of room to develop at just 24 years old — a relatively young age for a goalkeeper.
If Coventry do earn promotion, maintaining continuity by keeping Rushworth as their first-choice keeper could prove vital in adapting to Premier League demands. Much will depend on Brighton’s valuation, but provided the fee is reasonable, a permanent deal would represent a logical step for all parties involved.
Leave a Reply