Coventry agree deal for Swansea captain Grimes

Matt Grimes arrives at a Swansea game earlier this seasonImage source, Huw Evans Agency
Image caption,

Matt Grimes has been Swansea's club captain since being appointed by Steve Cooper in 2019

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Matt Grimes is poised to complete a move to Coventry City after the Sky Blues agreed a deal for the midfielder with Swansea City.

Coventry have had a bid for Grimes accepted after Swansea's club captain made it clear to the Welsh club that he wanted the move to the CBS Arena.

Grimes is expected to sign a long-term contract at Coventry, with Swansea's hierarchy ruling out the idea of matching the terms being offered by their Championship rivals when news of their interest first emerged last week.

Grimes, who will be 30 this summer, is Swansea's highest-paid player and signed a new deal at the Swansea.com Stadium last August.

There are suggestions his move to Coventry could be worth up to £4m to Swansea including various add-ons.

Grimes said his farewells at the Swansea training ground on Tuesday, with his move to Coventry expected to be completed at some point this week.

But it remains to be seen whether he will officially be a Coventry player in time for their league game at - of all places - Swansea this Saturday.

Coventry's interest in Grimes was first reported by BBC Sport Wales on Monday, with two offers for the former Exeter City youngster rejected before they returned with a third bid which looks like securing the first signing of Frank Lampard's reign.

Grimes has been a model of consistency for Swansea since establishing himself in the first team following the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

In all he has made 333 appearances for the Swans, scoring 16 goals, since joining from Exeter for £1.75m a decade ago this month.

Coventry are 12th in the Championship, four points better off than Swansea, having won three successive league games.

Grimes' departure increases the pressure on Swansea to bolster their squad in the mid-season transfer, with head coach Luke Williams hoping a number of new recruits will arrive before Monday night's transfer deadline.