Coventry City are setting their sights on Hammarby IF goalkeeper Oliver Dovin as they aim to secure another key player in the mold of Gus Hamer and Milan van Ewijk.
According to a report from Swedish news outlet SportsBladet, the Sky Blues have prioritized the English-born Sweden international shot-stopper in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window.
Since their promotion in 2020, Coventry City has built a strong reputation in England’s second tier, earning widespread acclaim for their documented run to the 2022/23 Championship play-off final, as well as reaching the FA Cup semi-final last season, where they narrowly lost to Manchester United on penalties at Wembley. Mark Robins is managing significant changes this summer, both in the playing squad and coaching staff, with the acquisition of Dovin set to further illustrate the club’s ambitions of bringing Premier League football back to the West Midlands for the first time since 2001.
SportsBladet reports that Robins and the Coventry recruitment team have marked the Hammarby keeper as a main target.
Recent transfer windows have seen the Championship club succeed in recruiting European talent, with van Ewijk and Hamer proving to be standouts. They now hope Dovin will follow in their footsteps.
Earlier reports from fellow Swedish outlet TuttoSvenskan suggested multiple clubs were eyeing the London-born Swedish international for potential bids. However, Hammarby’s Sporting Director, Mikael Hjelmberg, played down these rumors.
Nevertheless, Coventry City appears undeterred by Hjelmberg’s comments, standing out as the only second-tier side plotting a move for the 21-year-old.
According to SportsBladet, Coventry should be mindful of Dovin’s valuation, although the report does not specify a figure, and representatives are expected to engage with Hammarby’s hierarchy at the Tele2 Arena.
The article concludes by stating that there are “many indications” pointing towards Dovin’s potential transfer to the CBS Arena, with Coventry City hopeful of finalizing the deal in the coming weeks.
Oliver Dovin’s Career So Far
Dovin signed his first professional contract with the Stockholm-based club in 2018. He made his professional debut on loan with Swedish second-division club IK Frej Täby during the 2020 season, where he accumulated 23 appearances. He then made his Allsvenskan debut for Hammarby on the final day of the same campaign against Örebro SK, followed by 10 appearances the next season. Having progressed steadily for both club and country, Dovin further established himself in Hammarby’s first team under current QPR manager Marti Cifuentes, making 24 appearances across all competitions in 2022.
Currently positioned in the fourth spot in the Swedish top division after a dozen matches, Hammarby enjoys the presence of Dovin, the talented goalkeeper, credited with three clean sheets. The renowned “Blågult” star, a two-time international, continues to captivate audiences with his stellar performances.
Drawing attention from several European clubs, notably Belgian sides RSC Anderlecht and KRC Kortrijk, as well as an undisclosed MLS team, Dovin stands as a sought-after asset in the realm of football.
Considering Coventry’s pressing need for a goalkeeper like Dovin, it appears plausible that upon his recruitment, he would seamlessly integrate into Robins’ starting lineup for the inaugural fixture against Stoke City. In the previous season, Coventry grappled with a minor goalkeeping puzzle, juggling between Ben Wilson and Brad Collins. Following his transfer from Barnsley last year, Collins showcased his prowess in 28 Championship appearances, conceding a mere 33 goals.
Now with Simon Moore’s departure, having moved to Sunderland post his contract expiration, Wilson seems destined for the third-choice position. Dovin, in this scenario, emerges as a reliable backup option for Collins, who occasionally faced challenges towards the season’s end, diminishing the team’s fleeting hopes for a playoff spot.