"Would be a magnificent bit of business" - Pundit backs Coventry City to complete Crystal Palace swoop | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer discussed Coventry City's links with Crystal Palace's Rob Holding

Carlton Palmer believes that Coventry City signing Rob Holding would be an excellent move for all parties, with the 29-year-old out of the picture at Crystal Palace.

Former Arsenal defender Holding has played just one game for the Eagles since moving to Selhurst Park in the summer of 2023, and he's found himself out of the first-team picture this season after falling out with Oliver Glasner.

Holding has spent his season playing U21's football with Palace, and Coventry City are keen to sign him on loan this month, as per The Sun, in what would be a lifeline to his career.

Palmer believes that signings of Holding's stature will eventually help the Sky Blues win promotion to the Premier League, and it would help improve the club's form during the second half of the season.

Carlton Palmer on Coventry City's interest in Rob Holding

Palmer, who played for England in the early 1990s, believes that Lampard's influence will play an important role in bringing new signings to Coventry, and that Holding would want to play for him.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said: "Frank Lampard wants to bring Crystal Palace’s Rob Holding to Coventry City.

“This would be a magnificent bit of business by Frank Lampard if he could pull it off.

“The former Arsenal star is currently on the fringes of Crystal Palace’s first-team. He joined the Eagles in 2023 after spending seven years with the Gunners, but he’s now playing with the youth team after being dropped after a fallout with the manager.

“Despite being a £4million arrival, he has never featured in the Premier League for the club, so Frank Lampard is trying to persuade him to get out and get some first-team football.

“I don’t believe that Crystal Palace would stand in his way as long as they can agree the financial contribution towards his salary from Coventry.

“Of course, Lampard is a big name, and he’s a likeable bloke, and he’s well-liked by Premier League managers, so he’s going to use his influence to call up those clubs and to sign the players on loan.

“For somebody like Rob Holding, who left Arsenal and was hoping to play regular football at Crystal Palace, it hasn’t materialised, so for a couple of months until the end of the season, Coventry could still make a run for the play-offs. It might well appeal to him.

"I’m sure Frank Lampard will have that effect, and players will come and play for him, so we’ll have to wait and see.

“When you look at the job that Mark Robins has done at the club, you can only assume that Lampard has been brought in to get the club back to the Premier League, so you’re going to need better players to do that and if you can encourage players like Rob Holding to step down and get their career back on track, and get Coventry back to the Premier League then it’s exactly where they want to play.”

It was only two seasons ago that Holding was playing for an Arsenal side competing for the Premier League title, and his snub at Palace is down to a falling out with the manager, rather than anything to do with his ability.

It may take him a little while to get up to speed in terms of match fitness, but he's a quality player who will have a lot to give Coventry City and a point to prove too, after what's happened at Crystal Palace.

It's been a torrid 18 months or so for the Arsenal defender, and a move to the CBS Arena gives himself the chance to get back into the limelight and reignite his career.

There should be no doubt about his quality and he'll add a wealth of experience to the Sky Blues' backline which will only stand them in good stead for the future.

If Holding is fit and hungry, then signing him this month is a no-brainer for Coventry City, and they'll hope he can help them move up the table in the coming months.