Conor Coventry considers West Ham loan exit
West Ham youngster Conor Coventry has admitted that he could be set for a loan move next season as he bids to make his mark in senior football.
Coventry, captain of both the Irons Under-23s side and the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, played seven times for Lincoln City on a loan spell in League One last year.
But he remained at the London Stadium this season and he has featured just once, in the EFL cup, in a campaign partly disrupted by injury.
He is still highly-rated, however, with the Daily Mail’s Secret Scout reporting late last year about the “forceful” and “powerful” midfielder.
“It’s been a tough one for me with an injury and the frustrations that that’s brought,” Coventry told The 42.
“But I’ve worked hard and I feel like I’m a better player and person now than I was at the start of the season.”
On whether he would look for another loan move next season, he said: “It’s a tough one because obviously the team are doing so well this season. It’s pretty hard to break in. Especially when some key players play in my position.
“So I’ll obviously work hard in pre-season and see what happens, but either way, if it is a loan, I’ll make the most of it, and I’ll go and get 40 games as well.
“I’m at an age now where I’m ready to go and play men’s football and play every week.”
Chance to stake his claim
Coventry’s first-team prospects appear slim at the moment, but if we don’t bring another central midfielder through the door this summer then the door remains slightly ajar for him.
Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek are the undisputed first-choice duo in the middle of midfield, and they are among the best pairings in the Premier League.
But behind them Mark Noble is the only senior central midfielder capable of playing a deeper role, and that’s not enough cover considering the substantial number of games we will play in next season.
Qualification into the Europa League has thrown up another challenge to this squad and we will struggle to keep up with the demands if reinforcements are not brought in.
Midfield is one of the pressing areas of concern that we need to sort out, and thus Coventry could have chances if there are any injuries in pre-season or at these start of the campaign.
That said, a loan move would be the best move all round, provided we sign another midfielder.
Coventry needs to play regular football at senior level, possibly in the Championship, and come back to the club at the end of next season, vying for a place.
In other West Ham news, Irons plot swoop for ‘Sensational’ defender admired by Jurgen Klopp.
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