Coventry City are exploring a move to sign Xhaka next

Both Coventry City and Ipswich Town will be faced with that old debate – spend to survive, or stick with those who helped secure promotion?

Perhaps the real answer, as Sunderland have shown this season, is hitting the mark, with the likes of Trai Hume and Dan Ballard still central under Regis Le Bris, albeit with new faces like Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka stepping up at the Stadium of Light.

Xhaka, signed in a £17m deal last summer, has transformed the Black Cats this season, with the Wearside side still eager to qualify for Europe following last year’s qualifying success.

It’s been a remarkable rise, and Xhaka, who was quickly installed as captain, has been at the center of it, showing both Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna the benefits of proven Premier League quality.

Coventry can learn a lesson from Ipswich’s last Premier League campaign

It is a testament to Ipswich that, unlike Luton Town or Leicester City of late, they were able to return to the top flight at the first attempt, rather than moving on after last season’s relegation.

McKenna and his team seem to have benefited from their recruitment drive, as they have picked up some of the best talent the Championship and EFL have to offer, such as Jack Clarke, Jaden Philogene and Dara O’Shea.

That trio has since proved vital in 2025/26, with Clarke and Philogene scoring 29 goals between them, and O’Shea making the second appearance of any player in the squad in all competitions.

Last season’s recruitment laid the groundwork for McKenna’s return this time around, while gambles on Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson paid off, amid their subsequent sales to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.

Such a brilliant collaboration helped to maintain stability, although the only caveat is that the Tractor Boys failed to survive in the Premier League, perhaps lacking any real experience in the top flight.

The loan signing of Kalvin Phillips prevented that, although the former Euro 2020 lacked intensity and confidence at the time of the move, there is more agreement that McKenna may have needed this time around.

For Lampard and co, they will need to find that balance between putting together a squad that could emerge in the future, but also ensure there is enough proven quality to have a good crack at staying.

Coventry and Ipswich could battle it out to sign the likes of Xhaka

At Sunderland, Le Bris showed loyalty to the likes of Hume and Ballard, yet was ruthless towards others, replacing promotion-winning captain Dan Neil, following the signing of Xhaka’s statement.

The Swiss star has since scored and assisted seven Premier League goals, picking up where he left off after leaving Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023.

It was a deal that raised eyebrows, but it certainly paid off for Le Bris, with Coventry perhaps exploring a similar move for former Liverpool star Gini Wijnaldum.

As reported last week, Lampard’s side are negotiating a one-year deal for the Al-Ettifaq captain, with the 35-year-old keen to return to the Premier League.

Ipswich have not been linked themselves, although they would be wise to enter the race too, with Wijnaldum in form, having scored 23 goals in Saudi Arabia this season.

The level of the Saudi Pro League will be discussed, although, like Xhaka, both clubs could gamble on Wijnaldum’s previous experience in the Premier League, having featured for Newcastle United and Liverpool.

His solo season at St James’ Park in 2015/16 saw him score 11 goals in 40 games, as he won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool, making 237 appearances under Jurgen Klopp’s watch.

The veteran midfielder was part of Klopp’s side at the time, scoring twice in a memorable win for the Reds. that a stunning comeback against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019.

He then endured a tough time of it at Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Liverpool on a free transfer in 2021, although his Ettifaq record remains encouraging, boasting 54 goals and assists in his first 100 games for the club.

The Rotterdam-born machine has already made 217 Premier League appearances in the past, ensuring he would be a welcome presence in any dressing room, be it at Ipswich or Coventry.

For more information, if you think he is out of contract this summer, Wijnaldum could be the next returning talent to light up the Premier League, as Xhaka has this season.

It’s a time full of young, potentially young signings under the age of 25, but sometimes, a little more experience can make a difference.