SKY BLUES MOVE QUICK AFTER £1M KEOGH DEAL
COVENTRY City are set to strengthen their squad with a talented young centre-half from Manchester United as star defender Richard Keogh finally sealed his move away from the Ricoh Arena.
Although disappointed to be losing the 25-year-old fans' favourite * who has joined Derby for an undisclosed fee understood to eventually be worth in excess of £1million * Sky Blues boss Andy Thorn has acted swiftly to draft in another highly rated player on a season-long loan from Old Trafford.
It is expected that the powerful England youth international, who can play in a number of positions including centreback, full-back and central midfield, will complete the paperwork today and report for duty at Ryton on Monday on City's return from their preseason tour in Scotland.
Meanwhile, Thorn has worked the Keogh move to his advantage by securing promising young centre-forward Callum Ball on a long-term loan, although the two deals are separate.
The 6ft 3ins tall striker * who scored against City at Pride Park last season * is understood to be the first of up to two more players coming in in that position.
“We've done our homework on Callum who is strong and powerful, and got loads of potential,“ said Thorn of the 19-year-old.
“We're looking for strikers and I'm confident he'll score goals for us, especially the way we play.
“It's a position we are looking to address but we are not finished there. There will be a couple more coming in but at the same time we are well within the budget.“
Keogh, meanwhile, who has also been courted by Cardiff and Leeds, agreed personal terms and completed a medical with the Rams yesterday before putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Although Cardiff had looked favourites to get him, County are understood to have offered the player of the season more money money resulting in the Welsh club cooling their interest to avoid being drawn into a bidding war.
He is the third centre-back to leave Coventry this summer and Richard Wood (pictured) could be the fourth after the 27-year-old was strongly linked with a move back to newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday.
Wood is understood to be City's highest earner and his return to Hillsborough would clearly help balance the books now that the club are in League One.
The left-sided defender slipped down the pecking order last season under Andy Thorn, managing just 12 Championship starts before being out injured from February until the end of the season.
Wood was signed by Chris Coleman and has a year left on his current contract which means Coventry should get a fee for the centre-back who played against Ross County on Wednesday night but who could be left out against Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow if the Owls make their move for the player who came up through the South Yorkshire club's Academy.
COVENTRY City are set to strengthen their squad with a talented young centre-half from Manchester United as star defender Richard Keogh finally sealed his move away from the Ricoh Arena.
Although disappointed to be losing the 25-year-old fans' favourite * who has joined Derby for an undisclosed fee understood to eventually be worth in excess of £1million * Sky Blues boss Andy Thorn has acted swiftly to draft in another highly rated player on a season-long loan from Old Trafford.
It is expected that the powerful England youth international, who can play in a number of positions including centreback, full-back and central midfield, will complete the paperwork today and report for duty at Ryton on Monday on City's return from their preseason tour in Scotland.
Meanwhile, Thorn has worked the Keogh move to his advantage by securing promising young centre-forward Callum Ball on a long-term loan, although the two deals are separate.
The 6ft 3ins tall striker * who scored against City at Pride Park last season * is understood to be the first of up to two more players coming in in that position.
“We've done our homework on Callum who is strong and powerful, and got loads of potential,“ said Thorn of the 19-year-old.
“We're looking for strikers and I'm confident he'll score goals for us, especially the way we play.
“It's a position we are looking to address but we are not finished there. There will be a couple more coming in but at the same time we are well within the budget.“
Keogh, meanwhile, who has also been courted by Cardiff and Leeds, agreed personal terms and completed a medical with the Rams yesterday before putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Although Cardiff had looked favourites to get him, County are understood to have offered the player of the season more money money resulting in the Welsh club cooling their interest to avoid being drawn into a bidding war.
He is the third centre-back to leave Coventry this summer and Richard Wood (pictured) could be the fourth after the 27-year-old was strongly linked with a move back to newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday.
Wood is understood to be City's highest earner and his return to Hillsborough would clearly help balance the books now that the club are in League One.
The left-sided defender slipped down the pecking order last season under Andy Thorn, managing just 12 Championship starts before being out injured from February until the end of the season.
Wood was signed by Chris Coleman and has a year left on his current contract which means Coventry should get a fee for the centre-back who played against Ross County on Wednesday night but who could be left out against Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow if the Owls make their move for the player who came up through the South Yorkshire club's Academy.