Brighton and Hove Albion left-back Alex Cochrane is a name currently under consideration at Coventry City to fill the void left by former loanee Ian Maatsen, as per a report from Coventry Live.

The Sky Blues are currently on the prowl for a new left wing-back to come in with Dutchman Maatsen unlikely to return at this stage, considering the likes of Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona have been linked with him in recent months.

He may even be given the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge, though his situation is currently unclear with Ben Chilwell making promising strides towards a recovery following his ligament injury.

 

 

Regardless of this, a move back to the CBS Arena may not materialise and Mark Robins has shortlisted Cochrane as a potential option in this area, with Jake Bidwell likely to provide him with competition for the wing-back spot on the left.

The Brighton man spent last season out on loan at Hearts, making 40 appearances as a regular starter for the Scottish Premiership side and recording three goals and four assists in the process during what was a successful spell north of the border.

He spent some of his time at his former loan side playing at wing-back and with that, could slot in seamlessly into Robins' system, though he's just a name under consideration at this stage with a bid seemingly not being launched just yet after first being linked with a move to the Midlands by The Sun.

Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers are also in the race for the Englishman according to the same outlet, with the latter waving goodbye to Lee Wallace and Sam McCallum this summer.

The Verdict:

With his name being discussed by officials at the CBS Arena, it will be interesting to see whether they make a move for him and they could be well-served doing so, because the 22-year-old could be a versatile asset for the Sky Blues.

Operating as a wing-back, the 22-year-old can also play in a more defensive full-back role and that could be of use to Robins if he wants to change his side's formation at some point during the 2022/23 campaign.

He may also be able to fill in as a left centre-back, potentially providing depth in a position where they need one or two options following the departure of Jake Clarke-Salter, who now looks set for a move to QPR.

With Cochrane having just one year left on his contract at the Amex Stadium and the full-back potentially unlikely to earn a new deal at this stage, a loan deal doesn't seem likely so the second-tier side's hierarchy will probably need to fork out a transfer fee if they want to recruit him.

That reasonably short time left on his existing deal may mean a cut-price deal could be negotiated though, especially if the likes of the Hatters and the R's opt against making a move for the Seagull.