Coventry City are reportedly looking to pursue a summer swoop for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall ahead of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
The Sky Blues have already secured three summer signings during the transfer window and are pressing ahead with their plans to add further experience to the football club, with the aim of achieving a top-six finish next season.
Worrall is part of a three-man shortlist of players that are expected to be let go by Nottingham Forest in order for the club to avoid a further financial-based points deduction next season.
How did Worrall fare last season?
Worrall has spent his entire professional career with Nottingham Forest, rising through their academy and has also experienced loan stints with the likes of Rangers and Besiktas.
He made nine appearances for Forest in all competitions during the first half of last season but was granted the green light to leave the football club on loan in January.
The defender was snapped up by Turkish side Besiktas, where he made an additional nine appearances in all competitions while scoring once during a league match against Caykur Rizespor.
However, he is expected to be let go by the club this summer.
Do Coventry face any competition?
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Coventry City aren’t alone in their pursuit of the 27-year-old with Championship rivals Sheffield United also pursuing a move for the defender.
However, a move isn’t straightforward for either side. Sheffield United are still in the process of a potential takeover attempt which blocks any opportunity for them to sign the defender quickly.
Meanwhile, Nixon has stated that Coventry are only keen on a loan deal which won’t work for Nottingham Forest at this moment in time.
Is a move likely to occur?
With Nixon confirming that Lewis O’Brien, Joe Worrall and Matt Turner are all subject to leave the football club to ensure Forest isn’t hit with a further points deduction, there is a belief that a deal could occur.
However, Coventry only signed one player on loan in the entirety of last season, which is likely to cast a potential doubt.
A loan move would also imply that either the asking price is too high or Coventry cannot afford to outright sign the defender at this time.
If one of Turner or O’Brien were to move before Worrall, the loan or loan-to-buy option could insert itself on the table for either Coventry or Sheffield United, which would likely increase the chances of a move occurring.