According to Football League World, Coventry City have joined multiple Championship sides in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers midfielder Lewis Travis.
The Sky Blues join rival Championship sides Derby County and Wrexham in the race to sign the 27-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract at Ewood Park.
Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that Rovers are finding it a struggle to get their captain to sign a new deal, despite there being one on the table.
Rams manager John Eustace is thought to want a reunion with the midfielder, whilst Wrexham are looking to recruit ahead of their first season in the Championship after achieving promotion from League One last season.
Travis made 38 appearances in the second tier last season and has been at Rovers since 2015.
Coventry City Interested Despite Plethora of Midfielders
To some, the Coventry link might come as a surprise, with the club already having the likes of Matt Grimes, who joined from Swansea City in January, Ben Sheaf, Victor Torp and Josh Eccles under contract, who are all players who like to operate in a more defensive role.
Frank Lampard’s side suffered play-off semi-final heartbreak at the hands of play-off winners Sunderland, and will be looking to replicate and hopefully emulate the same success next season.
The Sky Blues have already completed the signing of Spanish left-back Miguel Angel Brau, who will be joining the club from Spanish side Granada on a free transfer on July 1.
Eustace Wants A Reunion
Travis wouldn’t be the only player whom Eustace has previously worked with who he wants to bring to Pride Park, with ex-Blackburn players Andreas Weimann and Danny Batth set to sign for the club, in what is the 45-year-old’s first transfer window in charge at Derby.
Football League World revealed earlier in June that the Rams were eyeing a move for the Englishman, as the club look to avoid the same relegation battle they had on their hands last season.
It shocked many when Eustace moved from Blackburn, who were fighting for play-offs, last season, to relegation-threatened Derby, but he did manage to keep the Rams in the second tier on the final day by a single point.
Wrexham Preparing For Life in the Championship
After three successful promotions in a row, the Red Dragons are facing their biggest step up yet, but are looking to invest heavily in their playing squad.
Although, according to the article, the Wrexham links have apparently cooled, which may leave Derby and Coventry in a two-man race to secure the midfielder’s signature.
Former Plymouth Argyle man Ryan Hardie was the first signing through the door at the Racecourse, but the club have been linked with many other players, including Premier League stalwarts and experienced Championship players. It’s fair to say Travis falls under that category, having made 242 appearances in the Championship across seven seasons.
Writer’s View
Travis’s link to Derby makes sense, especially with Eustace reportedly bringing in the likes of Wiemann and Batth to Pride Park after managing them at Blackburn. Whilst the Coventry links don’t make much sense, especially with four other defensive midfielders under contract, things change extremely fast in football, suggesting that any of the four players under contract could potentially be on their way out.
For the player himself, he has a decision to make: does he stay at Ewood Park, does he reunite with Eustace, or does he opt for play-off pushing Coventry.
