Coventry City are closing in on one of their most significant transfer coups in years, with the Sky Blues set to land Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Aurele Amenda in a deal that could reach more than £17m. The Switzerland international would become the cornerstone of Frank Lampard's defensive rebuild ahead of Coventry's first top-flight campaign in a quarter of a century.

The Fee and the Contract

The noises out of both clubs suggest this one is close to a done deal. Coventry are understood to have agreed an initial fee of £15.4m with Frankfurt, with a further £1.7m available in performance-related add-ons. Amenda himself is set to commit on a four-year contract, tying him to the CBS Arena through to 2029 at the earliest. For a club returning to Premier League football, it is an ambitious piece of business that signals real intent.

Lampard's Personal Pitch Made the Difference

What appears to have swung the move is the directness of Coventry's approach. Amenda is said to have been persuaded by a strong personal pitch from Lampard and the club's recruitment staff, who clearly did their homework in convincing the 23-year-old that a newly promoted side offered the right environment for his development. It is the kind of targeted selling that top clubs take for granted but that represents a genuine skill at Championship-level operations making the step up.

Amenda made 42 appearances for Frankfurt after moving to Germany from Young Boys in Switzerland, establishing himself as a composed, ball-playing centre-back in the Bundesliga. He was part of the Switzerland squad that reached the World Cup quarter-finals this summer, though he did not feature in the tournament itself. The pedigree is there, and at his age, the ceiling looks high.

Third Signing of the Summer

The Amenda deal would make him Coventry's third senior addition since the curtain came down on last season. Winger Loum Tchaouna has arrived from Burnley, and midfielder Frank Onyeka has made his loan move from Brentford permanent. The recruitment team appear to be working methodically through clear targets, which will reassure supporters who know how unforgiving that first season back in the top flight can be.

There is still work to do in the window, however. Coventry remain keen on Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, though an agreement has so far proved elusive. Chelsea's Filip Jorgensen has emerged as a potential alternative between the sticks, suggesting the club are not prepared to wait indefinitely for their first-choice target. Getting the goalkeeping position right will be every bit as important as shoring up the back four.

Pre-Season Under Way

Lampard, whose contract was renewed earlier this summer, has already begun preparations on the training pitch. The Sky Blues opened pre-season with a behind-closed-doors 3-2 defeat against Wimbledon — results in July matter less than fitness and shape — and fixtures against Northampton Town and Espanyol are lined up as the intensity builds ahead of the new campaign.

For a club that last played Premier League football in 2001, every piece of business this summer carries extra weight. Securing a centre-back of Amenda's standing before the window has properly heated up is a statement of ambition from a club that clearly intends to do more than simply make up the numbers.

Frequently asked

How much are Coventry paying for Aurele Amenda?
Coventry City are set to pay an initial £15.4m for Amenda, with up to £1.7m more in add-ons, making the total potential fee more than £17m.
What club is Aurele Amenda joining from?
Amenda is joining Coventry City from German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, where he made 42 appearances after moving from Swiss side Young Boys.
When did Coventry City last play in the Premier League?
Coventry City were last in the Premier League in the 2000-01 season, meaning this summer's promoted campaign will be their first top-flight season in 25 years.