COVENTRY City have held on to all their young talent after rejecting several bids for three academy starlets – but have missed out on targets for strikers and midfielders with the transfer window now closed, we can reveal.
One additional forward has been brought in tonight on loan – 18-year-old Watford player Michael Folivi, who made his Premier League debut against Stoke this month.
The 5 ft 11″ youngster signed his first professional contract with Watford in 2015 and is a product of their youth system. He is contracted with the Hornets until 2020.
In terms of targets, it has been a frustrating close to the January transfer window, with Coventry City boss Russell Slade missing out on a host of attacking targets.
We have learned they included one top target he hoped to close in on today – Preston North End forward Eoin Doyle, who has instead been loaned to League Two club Portsmouth.
On the other hand, the much sought after trio of home grown academy starlets – Ben Stevenson, Jordan Willis and Ryan Haynes – are all staying at the club.
So too is young defender Cian Harries, who was the subject of renewed late interest tonight from Spurs.
As we revealed earlier, there has been no further interest since 6.15pm from Rotherham in club captain Willis.
That was when the ‘final deadline’ set by Rotherham passed for Coventry City to accept their already rejected third bid for the 22-year-old.
We revealed earlier Coventry City sources had dismissed as ‘completely false’ media reports elsewhere they had accepted a third offer yesterday, and that the player had failed to agree terms with the Yorkshire club.
Slade earlier this month publicly stated other clubs should think again if they thought they could pick up the struggling League One club’s players on the cheap.
Coventry City have also repeatedly stated all players have their price and valuation.
We reported yesterday that Spurs had their request to trial defender Harries rejected by the Sky Blues. But it is understood they made a further approach tonight which came to nothing.
As we reported earlier this evening, club sources also told us Brentford had made no third offer for 19-year-old midfielder Stevenson, after the west London side had two bids of £500,000 and £750,000 rejected earlier this month.
Our sources say there was no renewed interest today in Haynes, after we revealed a Wolves bid was rejected yesterday.
