Managing Coventry City as Frank Lampard goes on transfer spree after £100m Premier League return

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Frank Lampard will be heading straight to his transfer wishlist after securing Premier League promotion with Coventry City . The Sky Blues drew 1-1 with Blackpool on Friday night, taking them to 86 points and far enough away from any other Championship contenders catching them to clinch a place in the top tier next season.

An 84th-minute equaliser from Bobby Thomas was enough to make history for Lampard's side . The celebrations began in style as Coventry secured their first season in the top-flight for 25 years.

Lampard was full of praise for his squad and admits the night comes close to his Champions League win with Chelsea . He said: "This is a special night for the football club, which is bigger than all of us.

"I'm more emotional than I thought I would be and the final whistle just caught me. It just dawned on me then what this achievement means to our fans. Winning the Champions League with Chelsea was the best night of my life, but this comes very, very close.

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"The players have got to enjoy tonight and we're off tomorrow. They don't drink as much as we do, but Tuesday and Portsmouth will come very quickly and I don't want any anti-climax. These boys deserve to win this league."

Now, Lampard will be getting the chequebook out and planning who his first arrivals will be to prepare for the massive jump to the Premier League. Coventry will receive £11million if they do secure the Championship title and will be boosted by a further £100m just by being in the top-flight next season.

With these figures in mind, Mirror Football has the latest on who Lampard may get in the door to keep his Sky Blues in the Premier League.

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Frank Onyeka looks to be Coventry's first permanent signing ahead of the 2026/27 season. The Brentford midfielder signed on loan at the tail end of the January transfer window and has been instrumental in sealing promotion.

The temporary deal included an obligation to buy for the Sky Blues if they made it to the Premier League. With the move to the top-flight confirmed, fans will be expecting an announcement for the Nigerian.

While the transfer fee is yet to be confirmed, Onyeka is valued by Transfermarkt at around £6million.

Lampard has been linked with doing a deal with his former club Chelsea. Blues youngster Jesse Derry has reportedly caught the Stamford Bridge legend's eye, as the 47-year-old has "reportedly outlined plans to secure a move" for the star.

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The 18-year-old typically plays off the left as a winger but can also work as an attacking midfielder. Son of former Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun, the rising prospect has caps at many England youth levels and was handed his senior Chelsea debut in their 4-0 win over Hull in the FA Cup .

Reports state that Lampard is keen to bring Derry to Coventry on a season-long loan. But with the teenager already showing off in west London, the Sky Blues boss will maybe need to utilise his connections to Chelsea to facilitate a deal.

Speaking about the transfer rumours growing, Lampard said: "But in terms of individual players, I’m not saying all those rumours (about Jesse Derry) are false, but they’re definitely not true as a fact.

"And that’s one of the difficult things now in football, recruitment, because you’re as good as it, to a degree, because you need good players. And I think the club has done a really good job in terms of that at where we are in the Championship because you can see where we are in terms of what we spend etc."

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Coventry have eyes on other Premier League stars, including Aston Villa's Ross Barkley and departing Sunderland man Dan Neil. Reports have stated that Barkley "could find a new home" with Lampard as Villa remain "open to offers" for the 32-year-old.

With plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, the midfielder could replicate the influence Granit Xhaka has had on Sunderland this season.

In the north east, Neil is set to depart the Black Cats when his deal expires at the end of the season. Coventry are reportedly planning to do battle for his signature , after he impressed in Sunderland's push for promotion last year.

After barely featuring under Regis Le Bris this season, Neil joined Ipswich Town and could return to the Premier League with the Tractor Boys - who sit in third place right now.

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