The latest Coventry City transfer news as a former star explains his hopes for Ben Sheaf amid fresh Premier League exit rumours.
Carlton Palmer thinks a Premier League team will be willing to pay Coventry City between £10 and $15 million for Ben Sheaf.
Rumours about the possible departure of players who nearly defeated last year’s champion or who led Manchester United all the way in an FA Cup semi-final last month have already begun to surface. City’s spot in the Championship for the upcoming season was confirmed after they finished ninth, nine points short of the total needed to qualify for the play-offs.
Sheaf is currently the subject of the most exit rumours, with Fulham, Luton Town, and recently promoted Ipswich Town rumoured to be in competition for the midfield player’s services come summer transfer window opening.
The 26-year-old, a graduate of Arsenal’s system, has played in the middle of the park for Mark Robins’ team 143 times since joining in 2021. According to the most recent speculations, Palmer’s efforts during that time have earned him a £10 million price tag; nonetheless, Palmer is certain that City should hold out against top-tier suitors for an even larger payment.
Over the past two seasons, the midfield player for Coventry has been exceptional. The manager recently gave him the armband of captain,” the former England international said to Football League World. “After this season ended, Mark Robins stated publicly that it would take unprecedented offers for any of his players to quit the football team at this point.
“Coventry has new owners in the football team, and Mark Robins has had to rebuild every year. Thus, he is now praying for some consistency and the ability to retain the players.
“Obviously, with Coventry missing out this season, it is very, very difficult when Premier League clubs come knocking.” However, Coventry is in a great position with Ben Sheaf, so I have no doubt that they will be there or thereabouts next season. His contract expires in the summer of 2026, although discussions to extend it will undoubtedly take place.
“But if that doesn’t work, they have control over the situation,” he continued. Apart from that, I would guess it will accept an offer in the region of £10–£15 million. As Mark Robins stated, it will require a record amount of between £10 and $15 million before they will even consider it.”
If Palmer’s plan materialises and the team holds out for the higher end of that range, Sheaf would become the third-most expensive player to leave the Coventry Building Society Arena in the club’s history, after Robbie Keane (£16.7m, 2000) and Victor Gyokeres (£18m, 2023) in terms of cost.
That would make him the most expensive midfield player to leave City, though, as £15 million just about beats Sheffield United’s £14.8 million offer for Gustavo Hamer over a year ago.
