Sideways Sammy

Having already added two wingers to the squad in January, there seemed bigger priorities than bringing in another for Coventry City in this transfer window. While there is a difference between signing Jahnoah Markelo on a permanent deal compared to the two loans made in the same area of the pitch, the question with this deal is why now? The winger arrives at Coventry off the back of a good couple of years in Switzerland but has little experience of football at a high level beyond the last 18 months. The level of competition for his place means he is under little pressure to adapt quickly but that could deny Markelo the regular minutes he requires to make the adaptation.

As for what Jahnoah Markelo brings to Coventry City, he looks a powerful right-sided winger who loves to cut inside onto his left foot to get crosses and shots away. The comparison seems to be with Ephron Mason-Clark, in him being someone who wants to receive the ball high up the pitch and look to threaten the goal. The key question with Markelo is how quickly he can adapt to the physicality of the Championship, in being able to receive the ball under pressure and make space for himself in congested areas of the pitch. As one of three, or maybe even four, options for the right wing, Jahnoah Markelo is going to have to show quality quickly to get a run of starts or he is not even guaranteed to be one of the first options off the bench.

If Coventry City were anywhere else in the league than sitting in the one of the automatic promotion spots, this is a transfer that would probably be seen as more sensible than it has initially been perceived. Bringing in a young player with potential on a long-term deal in a position the club will be short in after loans expire is what most smart football clubs would do. However, the scenario Coventry are in right now means that any addition has to be filtered into two categories – their immediate impact or their ability to play at a higher level next season. Jahnoah Markelo arriving from an overseas league with relatively little experience behind him makes it hard to determine which category he sits in and risks him becoming a superfluous addition unless he proves to be an inspired piece of scouting.