(Credit: Imago)
Fri 2 January 2026 9:24, UK
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard wants to sign Crystal Palace‘s Romain Esse as talks progress between the two clubs ahead of a potential loan move.
Coventry have been the Championship’s outstanding team this season, after they were beaten in the play-off semi-finals by eventual promotion winners Sunderland at the end of the last campaign.
Lampard‘s side have led the way since the first week of the season and remain top of the second-tier as it stands with 52 points from 25 games so far.
They have won just two of their last seven league games, though, after a 1-1 draw with struggling Charlton Athletic last time out, so are clearly in need of some January incomings to seal a long-awaited promotion to the top flight.
Palace winger Esse has struggled to play regularly under Oliver Glasner since joining from Millwall last January, and he could be on his way to the CBS Arena to bolster Lampard’s attacking options soon.
Credit: Imago
Coventry hopeful of signing Esse on loan from Palace ahead of Championship competitors
Lampard is known to want new attacking signings to add depth and quality to his side’s ranks, with Ephron Mason-Clark and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto as his only out-and-out wing options as it stands.
The Telegraph’s John Percy has reported that Coventry have held talks over signing Eagles winger Esse on loan, with Lampard thought to be hopeful of agreeing a deal soon, despite interest from other second-tier sides.
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Reports in October stated that Palace had no plans to let Esse leave in January, but their stance on his exit has seemingly changed due to a lack of game time and the impending arrival of Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson.
Championship leaders Coventry have held talks over signing Crystal Palace winger Romain Esse on loan. Other Championship clubs interested but Frank Lampard hopeful of agreeing a deal soon. With @mcgrathmike #pusb #skyblues #cpfc
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) January 2, 2026
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The 20-year-old has made just seven first-team appearances so far this season, with only three of those coming in the Premier League, while he has had to drop to their Under-21 side for more minutes.
He scored seven times in 66 games for his boyhood club Millwall and was a standout in the Championship, hence why he earned a move to Selhurst Park this time last year.
Which players could leave Coventry this month?
Lampard’s focus will solely be on signing new players, but it is inevitable that a number of Sky Blues stars will attract attention in January due to how strong they have been so far this term.
Turkish giants Besiktas have held talks to sign Haji Wright, according to reports, who has scored 40 goals in 104 appearances for the club, with eight in 21 second-tier games this season.
Football Insider recently revealed that Leeds are plotting a move for Wright in January to bolster Daniel Farke’s attacking options, but the Sky Blues have remained reluctant to cash in on his services, considering their current position in the table.
Credit: IMAGO
Milan van Ewijk has also been linked with a move away from Coventry in recent months, and a Premier League offer could prove tempting to one of the Championship’s best full-backs.
Jack Rudoni was touted to join Southampton in the summer too, and is bound to attract more interest after continuing to be a key player for the Sky Blues this season, but it is Wright who looks most likely to move on.
