Crystal Palace youngsters Luke Plange and Tayo Adaramola have both been linked with loan moves to Championship side Coventry City to continue their development.
The pair of teenagers had varying experiences of senior football last season, with Adaramola making his first-team debut for Palace in the FA Cup against Hartlepool while Plange made 27 appearances for Wayne Rooney’s Derby County in the Championship, sealing a £1million January move to south London before being sent back to the Rams on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Both are expected to be part of Patrick Vieira’s plans for pre-season, but decisions on their immediate first-team future are yet to be finalised. The Eagles might consider keeping them around the senior squad to gain valuable top-flight experience, though with the club reportedly looking at a right-back and a striker in the transfer window, their chances could be limited.
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That leaves the option of heading out on loan a sensible one should Palace take that route, and both players have been linked with a move to Coventry City. The Sky Blues finished 12th in the Championship last season while operating on one of the lowest budgets within the division. That means manager Mark Robins has had to be smart with his acquisitions in the transfer market, ensuring the players he brings in suit the team's high-energy style of play.
Palace boss Vieira has previously said that identifying the right club to send players on loan can be difficult, with some managers likely to stop fielding youngsters and switch to more experienced players if results don't go their way. That can hinder their development, according to the Frenchman, who said players must make mistakes in order to improve their game.
"When we send a payer on loan, we should know everything about the club that we are sending the player to," he told football.london in May. "You need to find the right club where players will play. You need to find the club that will allow players to make mistakes but to keep playing them. But we all sometimes know when you make a mistake, it can cost a manager's job, so it's difficult. We have to think and to work well to try and find the right place to keep the players developing themselves."
To see if Coventry City would be a suitable place to send Plange and Adaramola, we've spoken to Sky Blues fan and writer James Morgan about what he sees as a potential win-win situation for both clubs and players.
First addressing a move for Plange, Morgan said: "With the uncertainty surrounding Viktor Gyokeres' future, it is no surprise that the Sky Blues reportedly hold an interest in Luke Plange. The potential departure of the Swedish striker would leave a huge opening in the City forward line, and Plange could be the man to replace him at the CBS Arena next season.
"With Matty Godden's reoccurring injury concerns and the disappointing performances of Martyn Waghorn and Tyler Walker, Coventry could be the perfect place for Plange to continue his development and cement himself in the first-team of a potential playoff-chasing side. Despite finishing in the top half of the table last season, it was a frustrating season in front of goal for the Sky Blues, with missed chances becoming a common theme throughout the campaign.
"Therefore, Plange could be brought in to help ease the burden on the current striking options. This is a young and energetic Coventry side that presses high, creates lots of chances and could be the perfect stepping stone to help bridge the gap between the Championship and Premier League football for the Crystal Palace teenager."
As for Adaramola, Morgan says the full-back would be an excellent addition slotting into Coventry's team. He said: "Adaramola seems to be a perfect fit for Coventry City heading into next season. Mark Robins deploys a five at the back formation, and Adaramola looks like he could fit seamlessly into the left wing-back position. Last year's Young Player of the Season, Ian Maatsen, returned to his parent club Chelsea following the conclusion of the Championship campaign, meaning the Sky Blues will be on the lookout for someone to fill the void vacated by the Dutchman this summer.
"This could be a move that is dually beneficial for both Coventry and the Eagles. Mark Robins is a manager with a reputation for developing young players and integrating youth into his starting eleven. Ian Maatsen left the club as a significantly better player than when he joined, and the same could happen for Adaramola if he was to make the move to the CBS.
"The club only have one other recognised first-team left-back in Jake Bidwell, but the former Swansea defender has struggled with the demands of the wing-back position and now predominantly operates as a left-sided centre-half, leaving Adaramola's position wide open at Coventry City."
