Coventry City have been tipped not only to stay up next season but to achieve a top 14 finish in the Premier League.
That’s according to Darragh MacAnthony, Peterborough United’s owner, who reckons the Sky Blues will do better than their fellow promoted sides Ipswich Town and Hull City.
The League One club boss bases his theory on the belief that Doug King will back Frank Lampard in the transfer market this summer to the tune of around £100million – a figure he believes clubs need to spend to have any chance of survival in the top flight.
City fans are anxiously awaiting news of new signings after just two fresh faces have joined so far in Burnley winger Loum Tchaouna and Eintracht Frankfurt defender Aurele Amenda, while the club continues its pursuit of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.
Asked on talkSPORT which sides will be best equipped to stay up in the Premier League next season, MacAnthony paused for thought before answering: “I think Coventry will be the one.”
Asked if he believes that because of Frank Lampard, he added: “No, because of their owner (Doug King) who I think is going to give Lampard the tools. I think they have already spent £40-£50 million. Think they’ll sign some big players; they’ll do a Sunderland.
“I think any of those new sides going up can look at Sunderland and Forest as the template because if you really want to have a go at staying in the Premier League, you’re going to have to spend £100m on the right players. The recruitment has got to be spot on and £100 million is probably the number.
“Forest did it a few years ago, still in the Premier League. Sunderland did it last year, top ten! That’s what you have got to do. So I think Coventry are probably the club that are going to do that.
“Ipswich have always spent money but I don’t know if they will go to that level, and I don’t know enough about the Hull owner (Acun Ilicali).”
Told that Ilicali he has gone on record as looking to sign 10-12 players, MacAnthony replied: “Fair play, he’s ambitious and good luck to him. Look, you want the clubs to do well, particularly having been part of the EFL. You want them to stay there but as we know, statistically and historically, the odds are that two, if not all three come back down. But if I were a betting man, I think Coventry are going to be top 14.”
Asked, therefore, if he’s saying Coventry are staying up, who is going down, he said: “It’s really difficult…”
As for whether he thinks Leeds can do what they did last season, he said: “They’re going to rely on Calvert-Lewin playing games and scoring the goals, and if he doesn’t do that they could have an issue.”
He added: “I’m wondering about Sunderland and a second season syndrome. But obviously they need to keep Granit Xhaka and the manager as well, because he’s obviously a top class manager. How long do they keep him?
“So all those things are going to kick in. Second season syndrome is a big thing but I couldn’t pick three if you asked me to.”
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