Coventry City are closing in on the signing of Bristol City midfielder Kasey Palmer, Bristol Live understands. Palmer is set to sign for the Sky Blues, who finished five places and nine points above the Robins last season, following a campaign under Nigel Pearson in which the 25-year-old made just one Championship start and wasn’t used after October 19.
The playmaker’s impending exit would complete a transfer goal for City who have been keen to get Palmer’s salary off the books for at least the last two transfer windows as he’s been sporadically used by Pearson and predecessor Dean Holden. But should also be tempered with frustration that the Robins have been unable to get the best out of one of the most talented playmakers outside of the Premier League.
Bristol Live has learned there is no transfer fee involved but it will allow City to make a saving of around £1million on what would have been the final year of Palmer’s contract after he joined the club on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2019.
After talks with Cardiff City broke down last month, City faced the uncomfortable position of Palmer reporting for pre-season later this month, despite Pearson stating to the midfielder he was not in his plans for 2022/23, and then seeing out the remainder of his agreement before leaving on a free next summer.
That now seems to have been avoided and although Birmingham City also made a tentative approach, with manager Lee Bowyer a big admirer, Coventry are on the verge of securing Palmer.
The move would reunite him with Adi Viveash, Mark Robins’ No2 who managed Palmer at youth level for Chelsea, from Under-18 through to Under-21 football, and that relationship has been key in negotiations. Viveash and Robins both believe they can turn the Jamaican international into the best No10 in the division.
Palmer was part of the Chelsea U19 team who won back-to-back UEFA Youth Leagues. Former teammate Ola Aina, now of Torino, said that group of players - which also included Tammy Abraham, Andreas Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek - would have “died for” Viveash, such was their respect for the coach.
Aina told Vavel in 2020: “We had one manager, he is now assistant coach at Coventry, Adi Viveash. He doesn't play about, serious coach, old school guy, everyone would die for him.”
Palmer’s anticipated departure ends a frustrating three seasons at Ashton Gate in which the playmaker has been unable to become a regular first-team option under Pearson, Holden and Lee Johnson, who brought him to BS3 in 2019 on a deal for around £3.5m. He has made 54 Championship appearances, but only 28 as a starter, with his average minutes per game at just 49, scoring four goals and adding five assists.
Palmer now has the opportunity to showcase his undoubted talents at a new club, while Pearson and CEO Richard Gould will have secured space in the wage bill for greater flexibility in the transfer market and/or help meet the EFL's Profit & Sustainability rules for next season.
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