Coventry City and Ipswich Town, both newly promoted and preparing for life in the Premier League, may need to act quickly in the summer transfer window as competition intensifies for a highly rated Schalke midfielder valued at around £10.1 million.
The two clubs are still awaiting clarity on which teams they will be replacing in the top flight, but both secured automatic promotion from the EFL Championship, finishing first and second respectively. Their success has been built on strong managerial work—Frank Lampard has transformed Coventry City since arriving in November 2024 at the CBS Arena, while Kieran McKenna has guided Ipswich Town to their third promotion in just four years, continuing the club’s impressive upward trajectory.
As both sides prepare for the Premier League, strengthening their squads will be essential. The upcoming transfer window is seen as a key opportunity to address weaknesses and improve squad depth, especially given the increased demands of top-flight football. There is a growing expectation that both Lampard and McKenna will need to be decisive and possibly ruthless in reshaping their squads, following examples of other promoted teams such as Sunderland, who made extensive changes after promotion under Régis Le Bris.
One area of particular importance is midfield, which is widely regarded as a crucial battleground in the Premier League. While both Coventry and Ipswich already have established options in central midfield, there is a strong argument that additional quality will be needed to compete at the next level.
In this context, both clubs are being linked with Schalke midfielder Soufiane El-Faouzi, a 23-year-old German-born player of Moroccan descent. His development has included spells in the reserve sides of Paderborn and Fortuna Düsseldorf before joining Schalke, where he has played a key role under former Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic in helping the club secure promotion back to the Bundesliga.
El-Faouzi has been ever-present this season, starting every league match, and has contributed two goals and five assists. His attacking output is backed by strong creative statistics, including around 50 chances created in the 2025/26 season, with 11 classified as “big chances,” placing him among the top performers in his position. While his passing accuracy can be inconsistent due to his high-risk, forward-thinking style, he is known for attempting ambitious passes and creating opportunities.
Defensively, he also contributes significantly, registering high numbers in duels won, tackles, interceptions, recoveries, and overall defensive actions, making him a well-rounded midfield presence capable of influencing both phases of the game.
Reports suggest Celtic are currently leading the race for his signature, with other clubs such as Sunderland, Brentford, Bologna, and Rennes also monitoring his situation. His reported price tag of €12.5 million (approximately £10.1 million) is considered relatively affordable given his potential and statistical output, which is why interest is expected to grow further.
For Coventry and Ipswich, the question is whether to join the competition for his signing or pursue alternative targets. Coventry already have midfielders such as Matt Grimes, Frank Onyeka, Victor Torp, and Josh Eccles, but may still require additional depth and competition. Ipswich, meanwhile, face uncertainty over several midfield options, including loan departures and possible permanent deals, leaving Jack Taylor and Azor Matusiwa as the main established options heading into the new season.
Given these circumstances, both clubs are expected to explore midfield reinforcements, and El-Faouzi has emerged as a potential “value” signing who could strengthen their squads for the Premier League challenge.
