Former Lincoln City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could find himself at the centre of a transfer chain worth up to £50m this summer.
The Brighton and Hove Albion stopper, who spent the 2022/23 season on loan with the Imps, is the subject of a reported club-record bid from Coventry City after helping the Sky Blues win promotion back to the Premier League.
According to Sky Sports, Coventry have submitted a £20m offer to Brighton in an attempt to bring Rushworth back to the CBS Arena permanently. The 24-year-old spent last season on loan with Frank Lampard’s side, starting all 46 Championship matches as they won the title and returned to the top flight for the first time since 2001.
Rushworth recorded 17 clean sheets during the campaign, enough to earn the Championship Golden Glove, and his performances have now placed him firmly in the middle of one of the more intriguing goalkeeping situations of the summer.
Former Imp Could Be Waiting On Brighton Decision
Rushworth is remembered as one of the strongest loan goalkeepers we have had in recent seasons. He arrived from Brighton in the summer of 2022, after a spell with Walsall, and went on to play regularly under Mark Kennedy during a campaign in which the Imps finished 11th in League One.
He made 42 league appearances for us, 46 in all competitions, missing some because of a red card against Port Vale, before stepping up to the Championship with Swansea City the following season. That move proved another important stage in his development, with Rushworth winning both the Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the Welsh club.
A brief loan spell at Hull City followed, but it was at Coventry where he truly underlined his value. For a goalkeeper who was playing in League One three years ago, a reported £20m bid is a striking indication of how quickly his stock has risen.
However, the deal may not be straightforward. Brighton’s own goalkeeping position could influence what happens next, particularly with Bart Verbruggen reportedly attracting attention. Chronicle Live have reported that Newcastle United are interested in the Netherlands international, with Brighton said to value him at around £50m.
That is where the chain begins. If Brighton were to lose Verbruggen, they may be less inclined to allow Rushworth to leave, even for a major fee. If Verbruggen stays, Coventry’s hopes of turning last season’s successful loan into a permanent transfer may become stronger.
Rushworth has one year left on his Brighton contract, although the Seagulls are understood to hold an option to extend that by a further 12 months. That gives Brighton protection, but Coventry’s bid, if accepted, would smash their current transfer record, which stands at the £7.7m paid for Haji Wright in 2023.
It is a long way from Sincil Bank to a possible £20m Premier League move, but Rushworth’s rise has been steady and predictable. He commands his area well, is a great shot stopper, and his Dad used to drink in Gwynne’s before the game. What more can you want of a keeper?
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