Opinion: Why Coventry City move for 19-year-old may pay dividends

Coventry City are currently weighing up a move for Crystal Palace forward Luke Plange ahead of the summer transfer window, as per a report from The Sun.

The Sky Blues are looking to build towards a top-six finish this summer after narrowly missing out at the end of the 2021/22 campaign – but will probably need to do this on a shoestring budget once again with the club not generating a huge fee on a player in the last year.

This is why it’s no real surprise to see Mark Robins’ side reportedly in the race for another loanee, with the temporary additions of Ian Maatsen and Jake Clarke-Salter working out well for them last term.

Plange, 19, was involved in a relegation battle with Derby County last term but can come away from that campaign with his head held high, stepping up out of the blue and recording four goals and two assists in 26 league appearances for Wayne Rooney’s side.

This may not be the most attractive record for a side like the Sky Blues who will be hoping to push at the higher end of the division next term – but this was still a respectable achievement considering it was his first season of senior football – making the step up seamlessly and proving to be a real asset for the Rams.

With this experience under his belt, he will be a better player going into the 2022/23 campaign and with a side that now has off-field stability and creative players like Callum O’Hare and Gustavo Hamer, he could thrive in this healthy environment.

Also becoming accustomed to the Midlands during his time at Pride Park, it shouldn’t take him too long to settle into life at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

From Coventry’s point of view, he would be a good fourth option to have in the forward department alongside Viktor Gyokeres,