Frank Lampard delivers Yann Gboho update after last gasp transfer deal

Frank Lampard is confident new signing Yann Gboho can hit the ground running after his late transfer to Coventry City.

The Sky Blues didn’t confirm the attacker’s arrival until Friday afternoon, nearly three days after the deadline had passed.

Obviously he was not available for yesterday’s clash with Manchester City, in which Lampard’s side put in a brave performance but were beaten by an Erling Haaland header, but the manager believes the 25-year-old can come in and contribute quickly.

“He's been playing, he didn't play Toulouse’s last game, but he's been playing, so we feel he's ready,” Lampard said.

“He hasn't been with us yet because of the situation last minute in the deadline, we had to wait a little bit, but once we go back to training this week, he'll be with us.

“He’s a talented player who plays predominantly off the left side can play No. 10, behind the front, and we just felt with a player that the club have looked at for a long time, the opportunity arose on the deadline day, and we're very pleased to have him.

“He gives us more options. A Premier League squad needs options, you see today, Rudi and Mason-Clark run their legs off for 60 minutes and then the next one comes in, so for us to be able to add that sort of quality is a big thing.”

The deal was agreed before the transfer deadline but was subject to a delay while FIFA checked all the documents were in order. FIFA have now ratified the move.

Gboho scored 19 goals and contributed with 12 assists during his two-and-a-half-year stint with the French outfit.

He began his career at Rennes, went on loan to Vitesse Arnhem in the 2021-22 campaign where he played regularly in Vitesse’s run to the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League.

He spent 18 months with Cercle Brugge and returned to France in January 2024 as he joined Toulouse.

The Sky Blues’ side which began the game yesterday featured just three of the 12 players they have brought to the CBS Arena this summer, although Caleb Yirenkyi, Loum Tchaouna and Gus Hamer came off the bench.

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