Coventry City's intriguing £17m transfer window predicted with Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea deals

It has been a mixed start to the Championship season for Mark Robins and Coventry City.

An opening day defeat against Stoke City got the campaign off to a negative start before an Ellis Simms goal earned a first win of the season in a Carabao Cup first round tie at Championship rivals Bristol City. That was quickly followed by Friday night’s dramatic 3-2 home win against second tier newcomers Oxford United as a Haji Wright brace and a Milan van Ewijk effort ensured the Sky Blues collected their first league points of the season.

Although there have been several new additions to the City squad over the course of the summer transfer window, there is expected to be more business conducted before transfer deadline day on Friday. But what incomings and outgoings could we see? We fired up Football Manager 2024 to assess how the final week of the window could play out for Robins and the Sky Blues.

Goalkeepers

No changes in the goalkeeping department as Robins retains faith with his current options between the sticks. That’s a rather low key start to the final week of the summer transfer window but things will get more lively soon.

Robins goalkeeper options: Dovin, Collins, Wilson, Tyler.

Defenders

Firstly, we deal with a departure and it comes in the form of Jay Dasilva as he departs to join Championship rivals Middlesbrough in a £1.5m move. However, Robins did move into the transfer market to boost his options at the back as he signed Owen Beck on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool before signings former Aston Villa centre-back Jores Okore on a free transfer following his departure from Chinese club Yatai.

Robins defensive options: Kitching, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Binks, Bidwell, Van Ewijk, Okore, Beck.

Midfielders

There were two departures from midfield and two new arrivals. First to leave the club was Victor Torp, who moved back to Denmark with Midtjylland after the two clubs agreed £1.5m deal. He was followed by Kasey Palmer as the former Chelsea man moved to Derby County in a £1.4m switch. Their replacements came in the former of season-long loan deals for Premier League youngsters Maximo Perrone and Leo Castledine, who joined from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

Robins midfield options: Sheaf, Eccles, Rudoni, Allen, Andrews, Howley, Castledine, Perrone.

Forwards

There were no new arrivals at the top end of the pitch but there was a departure as Ephron Mason-Clark completed a £4.2m switch to MLS side New York City FC.

Robins forward options: Sakamoto, Borges, Simms, Wright, Thomas-Asante, Tavares.

In - Total spent - £8m

Rudoni (£4m from Huddersfield Town), Thomas-Asante (£2m from West Bromwich Albion), Binks (£1.25m from Bologna), Dovin (£1m from Hammarby), Borges Rodrigues (undisclosed from Macarthur), Okore (free transfer), Castledine (loan from Chelsea), Beck (loan from Liverpool), Perrone (loan to Manchester City)

Out - Total received - £9m

O’Hare (free to Sheffield United), Kelly (free to Rotherham United), Moore (free to Sunderland), Godden (undisclosed to Charlton Athletic), Burroughs (loan to Kilmarnock), Torp (£1.5m to Midtjylland), Palmer (£1.4m to Derby County), DaSilva (£1.5m to Middlesbrough), Mason-Clark (£4.2m to New York City FC)