Luton Town ready to make opening bid for Coventry City star | OneFootball

Luton Town are ready to make an opening bid for Coventry City midfielder Ben Sheaf, according to Alan Nixon's Patreon.

The Hatters, who have just suffered relegation from the Premier League, are facing the prospect of losing England international midfielder Ross Barkley as Aston Villa look close to sealing a deal for the 30-year-old, and Luton are keen to replace Barkley with Coventry man Ben Sheaf.

Rob Edwards' side will be looking to make an immediate return to the Premier League, and will be able to outspend the vast majority of their second tier rivals thanks to the parachute payments at their disposal.

Luton Town's interest in Ben Sheaf

Former Arsenal man Ben Sheaf has impressed for Coventry City in recent seasons, and helped the club reach the play-off final last season before reaching the FA Cup semi-final last month.

His performances have clearly impressed Rob Edwards, and Alan Nixon has reported that the Hatters will have to pay over £10million and come up with top Championship wages if Sheaf is to swap the CBS Arena for Kenilworth Road.

Coventry Live have reported that Sheaf will become Mark Robins' captain at Coventry City should he remain with the club, and the Hatters certainly face a battle to bring the ex-Arsenal youngster to the club this summer.

Luton want to spend a chunk of their parachute payments on the 26-year-old, but they could face competition, with both Fulham and Ipswich reportedly keen on Sheaf.

Both Fulham and Ipswich would be able to offer Sheaf Premier League football, whilst Luton won't be, but the guarantee of being a starter at Kenilworth Road could impact his decision should he leave Coventry in the coming months.

Luton are set to test Coventry City's resolve with a move for Sheaf, and you can expect the Sky Blues to face a long summer of transfer interest.

It's easy to see why Luton want Ben Sheaf

Ben Sheaf has proven himself to be a standout performer at Championship level in recent years, and would be a huge asset to the vast majority of clubs in the division.

The 26-year-old has made 131 Championship appearances, and would offer Luton a wealth of experience and quality in the centre of the park, which will be much-needed given Ross Barkley's imminent departure.

Sheaf joined Coventry ahead of the 2020/21 season, initially on loan from Arsenal, before joining permanently the following summer.

During that time, he's improved season upon season, and it would be a huge blow if Coventry were to see him leave this summer, particularly to a Championship rival.

However, with a contract at the CBS Arena until 2026, Coventry will know that they won't have to sell Sheaf for cheap this summer, and they can hold firm until a suitable offer is made.