COVENTRY City are set to have more discussions with star goalkeeper Keiren Westwood in a bid to persuade him to sign up on a new contract with the Sky Blues.
Manager Aidy Boothroyd is due back at work on Monday after his holidays and sees the Irishman’s future as one of his priorities as he gets down to the business of strengthening his squad in the transfer market.
“We are looking to have more talks with Keiren,” confirmed chairman Ray Ranson, who is quietly confident that the 25-year-old will put pen to paper on an extension to his current deal that has 12 months left to run.
“His agent has been out in Dublin taking in a game with him and has had a good chat with him, and hopefully we will get together and sort something out.”
Westwood (pictured), who has been the subject of more interest from Premier League clubs, will be made the club’s highest paid player if he signs.
However, if he decides against committing himself to the Ricoh Arena longer term, Ranson insists he will not let him leave for free next summer.
“All it is at the moment is speculation, we are desperately trying to get him to sign a new contract as he’s got 12 months left,” said the Sky Blues chief, who has confirmed that no official offers have yet been received now the summer window has reopened, although he is expecting contact.
“Until he or his agent turn around to us and say he’s definitely not signing a new contract then we are very optimistic.
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“But there is interest in him and rightly so, he’s an international goalkeeper now and he’s the best goalkeeper outside the Premier League – and he’s only getting better.
“So it’s no surprise all the big clubs want him. We’re not soliciting any firm bids but we are expecting it now the window’s opened.”
Asked what would happen if the situation were to remain unchanged until next summer, Ranson added: “If it gets that far then we would lose him for nothing on a Bosman free transfer – so that won’t happen, I can assure you.
“We’d be forced to sell him. He won’t be leaving this club for nothing, that’s for certain.”
New City manager Aidy Boothroyd has already stressed his desire to keep hold of Westwood as he looks to build a side capable of securing promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship.
Westwood himself has remained pretty calm about the situation, last week insisting he will not let the speculation distract him.
Prior to winning his fifth senior international cap for Ireland in their 3-0 friendly triumph over Algeria, he said: “I must have said this a thousand times, speculation is speculation.
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"I can’t do anything about speculation and I suppose the club can’t do anything about speculation.
“Maybe it’s just a little feather in your cap that you are doing well and people are speaking about you, but there are no bids, there’s nothing like that.
“Speculation doesn’t make you move clubs.”