Coventry City supporters may tolerate Ben Sheaf’s departure if a 21-cap international is his replacement: View
HIGHLIGHTS
Coventry City are looking for a play-off challenge after potentially signing New Zealand midfielder Marko Stamenic for €5 million with a 10% sell-on clause.
Stamenic’s Champions League experience could change the dynamic in Coventry’s midfield, giving vision and forceful tackles from deep positions.
The arrival of Stamenic may result in the exit of Ben Sheaf, who has been a consistent presence in midfield and has attracted interest from Premier League clubs.
According to the Serbian newspaper Sportal, Coventry City are looking to recruit New Zealand midfielder Marko Stamenic.
His arrival might result in a significant alteration to Mark Robins’ midfield next season, as the Sky Blues look for a play-off challenge.
The 22-year-old, who is now at Red Star Belgrade after joining on a free transfer last season, may bring a fresh energy to Coventry’s midfield, and with Champions League experience, he might help the club return to its previous glory.
According to Mozzart Sport, the Sky Blues are anticipated to pay a seven-figure sum of around €5 million for Stamenic, with a 10% sell-on clause added to the amount.
The prospective arrival of the New Zealand international may lead to Ben Sheaf’s exit from the CBS Arena.
What could Stamenic offer to Coventry?
Despite his young age, Stamenic is highly regarded by both club and nation. He has previously been capped 21 times by the All Whites and appeared 35 times for Belgrade in all competitions last season, including four Champions League matches and a goal against RB Leipzig.
The former Copenhagen midfielder has three years left on his Serbian contract, but with such a high offer, the current Serbian Champions may find it difficult to decline.
Stamenic, a big, fighting midfielder, with excellent vision.
His ability to initiate assaults from deep contributed significantly to Red Star’s league and cup victories. He completed 87.63% of his passes in the SuperLiga and averaged 2.17 tackles per 90 minutes, according to FootyStats.
Coventry are in need of midfield reinforcements after Robins released Liam Kelly at the conclusion of his contract, and signing Stamenic would fill the void.
Not only that, but at 22 years old, Stamenic is a rising star.
Although his price is exorbitant for his age, he has the potential to become one of the Championship’s top midfielders, replacing an older one in Kelly, who is 12 years his senior.
Last season, the Sky Blues finished ninth in the Championship, with no wins in their last six games. A midfield revamp could be vital to improving on their 2022/23 Wembley penalty shootout loss.
