Coventry City are set to reach an agreement with Norwich City that will see defender Sam McCallum seal a move to the Premier League club before returning to the Sky Blues on loan for the rest of the season, according to Coventry Live.

The 19-year-old has been a standout performer in League One for Mark Robins side throughout the campaign, with his energy and quality both going forwards and defensively making him very much suited to the left-wing back role in Coventry’s system which has seen him establish himself in the side ahead of Brandon Mason.

McCallum’s performances have been attracting the interests of Norwich, who were reported to have had a bid turned down for the defender earlier in the window, with the Sky Blues believing their offer fell bellow their valuation of the player.

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However, it is now thought that a deal has been reached, which will see McCallum head to Norwich for a fee of around £3million, with the defender then heading back to the Sky Blues to complete the campaign on loan with Robins’ side.

The verdict

This was a deal which was starting to look like it was gaining traction over the last week of the transfer window, and although the Sky Blues would have been hoping to keep hold of the highly talented defender, they will have been aware that was always going to be unlikely in the long-term given his performances.

The 19-year-old has shown he has the potential to develop into a player who is capable of playing at the highest level, although it is important that he continues to develop with regular first team minutes, which is why it is a sensible move for him to be re-joining Coventry on loan for the rest of the season.

Norwich would have been unlikely to throw the defender straight into their side amid their fight to stay in the Premier League, so it makes sense for them to allow McCallum to continue his development under Robins and then assess the situation again in the summer.

For Coventry, whilst it could prove too late to raise funds for them to add to their squad before the deadline, it could help them invest further in the summer, and for now they will get to keep one of their most important players as they target promotion from League One.