Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has refused to be drawn on reports linking the Championship leaders with highly rated Mjällby AIF winger Abdoulie Manneh.
Coventry are understood to be tracking Manneh after the 21-year-old helped Mjällby AIF win their first Swedish title, with the Sky Blues sitting top of the Championship and weighing up January additions to a relatively small squad.
Lampard keeps focus on current squad
Reports in Sweden have claimed Coventry City have opened talks with Mjällby AIF over a potential January deal for Abdoulie Manneh, whose form has attracted attention across Europe. The winger scored 7 league goals and added 4 assists during the Allsvenskan campaign, playing a key role as Mjällby were crowned champions for the first time in their history.
Interest has grown steadily after previous links with Portsmouth, when Manneh was valued at around £4.2m and monitored by clubs such as Bournemouth, Burnley and Brentford. More recently, sides including Wolves and Olympiacos have also been credited with an interest, with Coventry now viewed as one of the most serious contenders ahead of the winter window.
Abdoulie Manneh opened his account for @MjallbyAIFs; he scored his first goal in Mjällby’s 5-1 win over IFK Hassleholm in today’s Swedish Cup. pic.twitter.com/ZmTM9DT2dw
— Buba Jallow Fallaboweh (@soccercafe1) August 21, 2024
Asked about the speculation, Frank Lampard stressed that he could not be specific while any potential target remains under contract elsewhere.
“I can’t say much about that because he’s not our player. We’re always constantly looking to improve and I think that this year, specifically, we’ve got a tight squad, a thin squad in a sense,” the Coventry manager told local media when questioned on Manneh.
January plans and why Manneh appeals
With Coventry City pushing for promotion, Lampard has acknowledged that reinforcements are under consideration, particularly given the physical demands of a Championship season.
“Over the duration of the season, of course, you get tested with games, injuries, form, all of those things. So it’s certainly something we’re looking at in January in terms of what we can do to help the squad.
“Individually, I can’t comment but in terms of looking ahead to January then it’s something we’re considering because there haven’t been that many new additions,” he added.
That stance leaves the door open for a move for Abdoulie Manneh, who offers pace, direct running and versatility across the front line for Mjällby AIF. The Gambian international, who previously won the domestic cup with Wallidan before moving to Sweden in 2024, has built a reputation as an impactful wide forward with an eye for goal in both league and cup competition.
I would advise everyone to stay aware of Abdoulie Manneh in the next couple windows, wouldn’t be surprised if he got his move out of Sweden. pic.twitter.com/28BuK5xI2G
— charlie (@chazzurri) October 29, 2025
For Coventry City, any deal would have to fit within their recruitment and financial framework, with Lampard repeatedly emphasising the need for smart additions rather than volume. For now, the official line remains that the club will not discuss individual targets publicly, but the continued noise around Manneh suggests this is a story that is likely to rumble on as the January window approaches.
