Sideways Sammy

A left-footed, ball-playing centre-back, Luis Binks arrives to fill the considerable void in the Coventry City backline left by the departure of Callum Doyle. A starlet at youth level for Tottenham Hotspur, Binks made the curious decision to pursue senior football in Major League Soccer while aged 18 years old with the club formerly known as Montreal Impact. After impressing in North America, Binks moved on to Bologna in Serie A, where he played a handful of games before spending last season on loan at mid-table Serie B side Como. It’s been a peripatetic career thus far for Luis Binks, with this loan move to Coventry City the next chapter in his journey.

Having never played senior football in England, the question hanging over Luis Binks upon his arrival at Coventry City is just at what level his past experiences place him. Left-footed and excellent on the ball, the hope is that Binks can act as a like-for-like replacement for Callum Doyle on the left of the Sky Blues’ back three. The doubt against Binks is whether he possesses the physicality to compete against the big and quick forwards that he is set to face at Championship level. With it not being clear whether Luis Binks is quite capable for this level of football, this loan could well be a ‘try before you buy’ deal to take some of the risk out of his signing – although, it has not been stated whether the club has an option to sign the player permanently.

Luis Binks adds balance to Coventry City’s defensive options as a left-footer and looks to fit in with the move towards a more possession-heavy style this season. Whether he is ready to make an impact straight from the off remains to be seen, but his addition means there is now competition for places in central defence heading into the opening weeks of the season. There is the potential for Binks to be a smart addition for the Sky Blues, but he may require some polishing before that potential can be unlocked.