Tony Mowbray is looking to build a promotion chasing squad for next season, but he needs to dip into the transfer market and secure a few players first.

Coventry only have 11 outfield first team players on their books at the moment as Mowbray wasted no time in releasing nine players the day after the final game of the season against Oldham.

Coventry confirmed their first two signings in early July and Mowbray will surely still be keen on recruiting more, in a bid to fire the Sky Blues to their first top six finish since the 1960s.

City have lost a number of core first teamers from last season, such as Reda Johnson, Aaron Martin, James Maddison and Adam Armstrong.

If you also factor in the possible departure of John Fleck - who has been offered new terms but is considering his options - then Coventry are down to the bare bones.

Here are the THREE core players who Sky Blues fans will be relying on to step up and perform consistently next season...

 

Romain Vincelot 

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Romain Vincelot proved to be one of the captures of the summer when he completed his transfer from Leyton Orient to Coventry for an undisclosed fee.

Since then the bearded Frenchman has established himself as a first team regular - only missing one game through suspension.

The versatile 30-year-old central midfielder is likely to continue playing as part of a three-man central defence, as Mowbray continues to experiment with the 5-3-2 formation.

The former Brighton and Dagenham star will be the key man at the back for Coventry next season with his leadership, tenacity and composure key to the Sky Blues' hopes of promotion.

 

Andy Rose 

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Last December, Coventry completed a swoop for Seattle Sounders' midfielder Andy Rose.

It took him a while to find his feet in England but the 26-year-old impressed towards the end of the season, scoring twice in 12 games.

Rose can play on the wing or in an attacking role but central midfield is his preferred position, and he will be the main man in the middle of the park for the Sky Blues next season if Fleck decides to move on.

The Australia-born, Bristol-raised player had played in America for his whole career before moving to Coventry and Mowbray is a big fan of the dynamic midfield workhorse.

 

Marvin Sordell

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After showing such early promise, Marvin Sordell's career has stalled somewhat.

After spells at Watford, Derby and Burnley, the striker moved to Colchester United where failed to make much of an impact last year.

But with the right coach and the right service he could still be an effective player at League One level.

Mowbray will be hoping to squeeze the best out of the 25-year-old and if he does, then Coventry will have a 20-goal striker next year.

Sordell - who represented Great Britain at the Olympics - joined Coventry on a one-year deal and will look to reignite his faltering career by scoring plenty of goals and pushing City up the league.