“He does need replacing, I think we’ve seen the last of him in a Coventry shirt, I don’t think I can look at Callum O’Hare as a Coventry player anymore”- Coventry City told to stop dreaming of Callum O’Hare U-turn as pundit identifies possible replacement for player

Coventry City have been linked with a move for out-of-contract Sheffield Wednesday star Josh Windass this summer. This comes as the Sky Blues look set to lose one of their key men in the same position – Callum O’Hare – as his contract also expires this month, with suitors keen on taking him on board.

FLW’s Coventry City Fan Pundit, Neil Littlewood, believes that whilst Windass would be a like-for-like O’Hare – who he is resigned to losing – replacement, there may be better and more ambitious targets on the market.

Neil said: “I think we’ve been linked with Josh Windass for a few years, you know, I’ve heard his name come up a few times.

“Look, he’s going to want a hefty wage, I think that’s the issue with him. What I don’t understand is he’s going to be coming on a free transfer and want upwards of £20k a week.

“Now, if we had that sort of money, then Callum O’Hare wouldn’t be leaving. He wants to be matching the top earners, which are Ellis Simms and Haji Wright. So I don’t understand why you’d swap O’Hare for a very similar player who’s a little bit older.

“Granted he’s got Championship experience, a lot more than Callum has. I don’t think he’s got the injury problems that Callum’s had recently. I think Callum’s made his mind up that he’s going elsewhere now, I think we’ve seen the last of him in a Coventry shirt.

“So, as much as he’s a comparison, I don’t think I can look at Callum O’Hare as a Coventry player anymore, so he does need replacing.

“If it’s the fact that Callum’s made his mind up, he’s gone regardless of the money, then Josh Windass isn’t a bad replacement.”

Neil accepts that there may be no point comparing O’Hare to Windass, as the former may not even be an option on the table anymore and Coventry need to prepare for the season without him.

“He’s scored goals at this level; always looked quite sharp when we’ve played them [Sheffield Wednesday],” Neil said of Windass.

“We went through that spell between Christmas and the end of January where we played them four times and I think he might have even scored in one of the games.

“He always looked handy. I don’t think we’ll be the only suitors in for him. You’ve got to think with Hull, they’ve got the connection with his dad, so maybe that’s a pull for him.

“And I always remember reading some Argentine side have always wanted him, and I find that fascinating. If I were him, I’d be thinking ‘I want to try that out’.

“But yeah, it’s an interesting one. I don’t see it coming to fruition. I wouldn’t be jumping for joy if it happened, but at the same time I wouldn’t be upset if he were to come through the door.

“We do need a bit of experience. Since Liam Kelly’s gone, I think Sakamoto becomes our oldest player at like 27 I think.

“So, I think, it is definitely something we need, is a bit of experience in the squad and maybe Josh brings that, I don’t know.

“It’s one of those ones. If we signed him: brilliant, I can see where he’d be an addition. If we don’t sign him: I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”

In a vacuum, the signing of Windass would not be a bad acquisition for Coventry. He’s racked up 129 Championship appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists, and would bring a seniority that may otherwise be lacking in the Sky Blues’ squad.

However, football does not occur in a vacuum and, as such, Windass will only ever be compared to O’Hare at the CBS Arena because he would arrive as his direct replacement.