A £17m deal has been agreed for Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, with the Sky Blues expected to complete the signing before Friday's Premier League return against Arsenal, while Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong has also emerged as a Frank Lampard target.
The Awoniyi deal ends the Nigeria international's four-year stay at the City Ground. Awoniyi became Forest's record signing when he arrived from Union Berlin in 2022 for £17.2m and scored 23 goals in 103 games for the club, but had slipped behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in the pecking order and was left out of last season's Europa League squad, starting just three matches in all competitions.
His recovery from a serious injury sustained in May 2025, when he ruptured his intestine and was placed in an induced coma following a collision with a post against Leicester, adds further context to a difficult final year at Forest.
Coventry City are preparing for their first Premier League campaign in 25 years, and the Awoniyi deal follows a summer of heavy investment that has already brought in midfielder Gus Hamer from Sheffield United, goalkeeper Carl Rushworth on a permanent deal after his loan from Brighton, winger Loum Tchaouna from Burnley, defender Aurele Amenda from Eintracht Frankfurt and Ghana international Caleb Yirenkyi from Nordsjaelland.
With Haji Wright still working his way back from injury, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms have been Lampard's main fit striking options heading into the new campaign.
Frank Lampard's business is not finished there. According to talkSPORT, Coventry have also positioned themselves to take Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong, with a loan the most likely route given the 20-year-old's importance to Xabi Alonso's long-term plans at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have previously rejected several approaches for Acheampong and regard him as one of their more protected academy graduates, though the club's stance is understood to have softened in recent days as the transfer window heads toward its final fortnight. The versatile defender, who can play across the back line, would offer Coventry a Premier League-ready option as Lampard continues to reshape his squad for the step up in class.