‘Nothing short of highway robbery’ as Coventry City go 'all in' for ‘pit bull in cleats’ as transfer window looms
Coventry City continue to be linked with German defender Kai Wagner as the clock ticks down to the January transfer window.
Sky Sports Germany first reported interest earlier this month from the Sky Blues in the 27-year-old left-back from MLS Philadelphia Union who, the broadcaster claims, has also attracted the attention of Championship rivals Burnley.
Now OneFootball are claiming Italian sides Atalanta and Parma have also “entered the race” for the talented full-back who has an impressive 12 assists and one goal so far this season. And the outlet claims that the player’s £1.6million release clause means that any club who manages to get “a defender this good for such a bargain is nothing short of highway robbery.”
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The report says: “The transfer market is heating up, and Kai Wagner, the talented Philadelphia Union left-back, seems to be the latest hot commodity for European teams. With a release clause of just €2 million (£1.6m) and a contract running until 2026, English sides Burnley and Coventry are already salivating at the thought of bringing the German to the Championship, while Atalanta and Parma have also entered the race.”
It continues: “It’s no wonder Burnley and Coventry are going all in for the left-back. After all, they see Wagner as a key piece to unlock their long-awaited ticket to the Premier League.
“What’s interesting is that while the English sides are pushing hard, Atalanta and Parma aren’t just standing around. In Italian soccer, Wagner’s ability to create offensive plays down the flank could be exactly what a team like Atalanta, with their sights set on European competitions, desperately needs. Parma, meanwhile, stuck in Serie B, sees Wagner as a golden opportunity to bolster their rebuild and maybe claw their way back to the glory days.”
The article adds: “The real pressure, though, is coming from the English sides, and honestly, it makes perfect sense. In a league known for its grit and breakneck pace, Wagner would be like a pit bull in cleats; tough, relentless, and efficient. He checks all the boxes of what British teams crave in a left-back.”
The reports says that Philadelphia Union finds itself in a “tough spot,” with Wagner a “cornerstone of their team,” but argues that it’s no secret that MLS still struggles to hold onto top-tier players when European clubs come knocking.
It says that at 27, Wagner is at his “physical and technical peak,” ready to make a “big leap” in his career. It further states that Burnley and Coventry would be playing a “masterstroke” by paying €2 million for a left-back of Wagner’s calibre.
