It’s no secret that Mark Robins is looking to address Coventry City’s midfield issues in the forthcoming transfer window. The Sky Blues boss was disappointed not to have been able to add a dynamic operator to help fill the void left by Gustavo Hamer’s sale to Sheffield United in the summer, and it remains his number one priority when the opportunity comes around to trade again in January.

Robins admits he needs to discuss exactly what he can do with owner Doug King, saying: “We need to get a little bit more clarity around that, but all the work is going on. All it needs is for everybody to be in agreement and get aligned and push the button. So all the work that’s been done will hopefully come to fruition because I think there’s still more to do.

“We certainly need to get eyes on one or two, but ultimately it’s ready to go. And yeah, it’s just a case of putting the finishing touches in terms of decisions on certain individuals. Once that happens, and that will happen pretty quickly now, we’ll just get on and things will start to kick in.”

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So who’s on the list? We’ve taken a look at a handful of potential targets who might fit the bill and could already be on City’s radar. Some have been linked before, some haven’t…

Buy

Ilias ChairQPR midfielder Ilias Chair

The Moroccan international is a key man at struggling QPR but fits the profile of a versatile and exciting midfielder oozing talent that City are looking for. At 26, and having been at Loftus Road since 2017, Chair arguably needs to move on to further his career.

One of the most creative players in the Championship, he’s a brilliant dribbler, an impressive passer of the ball and knows where the net is – and on song, is an absolute joy to watch. Although the Hoops would, no doubt, be reluctant to sell, City might get lucky with an offer they can’t refuse.

Callum Styles

The Sky Blues were strongly linked with the Hungary international in the summer when the Sun claimed Robins was keen on the player being a replacement for Hamer. Then reported to be priced at around £2m, the 23-year-old continues to impress with the Barnsley, having played 12 games for the League One club and scored three goals. Styles has Championship experience, having spent last season on loan at Millwall signing a new deal with his parent club.

Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles
Barnsley midfielder Callum Styles tangles with Coventry City’s Ben Sheaf back in 2020

Loan

Amad Diallo

The Ivory Coast international returned to Manchester United over the summer after a successful spell on loan at Sunderland in the Championship. However, playing opportunities have been limited for the injury-stricken star who suffered a knee injury in pre-season.

Diallo is only under contract at Old Trafford until the end of next season, so faces a make-or-break second half of this campaign to determine his long-term status. He’s had loan spells with Rangers and Sunderland, the latter proving to be much more beneficial to his development due to a greater share of game time. He was named the club’s Young Player of the Year last season and the PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Year after a campaign in which he scored 14 goals from 42 appearances in league and cup.

Although linked with a number of Premier League clubs in the summer for another loan spell, a six-month stint back in the Championship might just suit the exciting forward who, while not in the Hamer mould, is nonetheless an exciting and talented player who can play in a number of advanced position