Frank Lampard sent Coventry City warning after Ben Sheaf's Wrexham move - club in "really tricky situation" | OneFootball

FLW's Coventry City Fan Pundit reveals his feelings surrounding Ben Sheaf's transfer to Wrexham

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Coventry City's decision to sell captain Ben Sheaf to league rivals Wrexham surely leaves Sky Blues supporters with mixed emotions.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder completed his £6.5m move to the Welsh club on deadline day, ending a five-year association with Coventry that began when he initially joined on loan from Arsenal.

Sheaf's exit seems to be a clever piece of business for the West Midlands outfit, who have obviously recouped a large fee for a player entering the final year of his contract - but there are some doubts as to how that leaves Frank Lampard's squad looking.

Coventry made one signing themselves on Deadline Day, bringing in centre-back Luke Woolfenden from Ipswitch Town for an undisclosed fee.

Coventry City facing "difficult situation" following Ben Sheaf's Wrexham move

FLW's Coventry City Fan Pundit, Chris Deez, offers a detailed look at the feelings surrounding Ben Sheaf's transfer to Wrexham.

"I’m surprised that we’ve sold Sheaf, only because I didn’t think anybody was going to be in for him and it’s a really difficult situation because there’s two ways to look at it," Deez said.

"On one hand, you don’t turn down £6.5m for a player thats not really featured too much over the past couple of seasons. Very, very injury prone - pretty much made of glass, everytime he’s come back he’s ended up injured again not long after."

Before being forced off after going on as a second-half substitute in the opening league game of 25/26 against Hull City - Sheaf dealt with calf issues in 24/25 that limited him to 33 appearances.

"He only had a year left on his contract - I know there was an option of another year. I think Wrexham have done a Wrexham, as they have done many times this window and overpaid for a player," the Fan Pundit continued.

"I think he’s maybe, at most, worth £4m to £5m, so I think it’s very good business on that side of things."

Whilst the Red Dragons have made some shrewd signings with the likes of Josh Windass and Danny Ward joining for nothing, Nathan Broadhead could eventually be worth up to £10m and they paid £7.5m for Callum Doyle.

Frank Lampard's squad "incredibly thin" after Deadline Day

Yes, £6.5m it is a lot of money for the midfielder, but Deez did express serious concerns about how Sheaf's departure affects Coventry's squad depth.

"On the other hand it’s left us incredibly thin on deadline day," he warned.

"We’re going into the first half of the season with Jamie Allen as one of our main backups. I really like Josh Eccles, he gives everything when he makes the rare appearance because he’s a Coventry lad through and through, but it is a bit worrying that an injury to Matty Grimes, even Rudoni, we’ve not really got any backup."

The timing of the deal has not helped with other transfer issues that Deez mentioned to FLW.

"We’ve also let wingers leave when we also need support in that area and Lampard said that he wants to bring in another winger, it’s been a very strange window.

"I wish Sheaf well, I hope he does well at Wrexham - as much as I don’t like them - but it’s a really tricky situation we’ve been left in," Deez concluded.

Ultimately, the departure of a club captain - regardless of the finances involved - perhaps raises questions about planning. The club most likely felt that the offer was too good to turn down, yet Deez thinks it could prove costly to Coventry if they're hit with any injuries.