Sky Blues hope to seal deal for Derby's James Bailey

[dutchman]

Coventry City are in talks with Derby County midfielder James Bailey over extending his stay at the Ricoh Arena until at least the end of the season.



The 24-year-old's 93-day emergency loan spell officially ended with the Sky Blues' 3-1 Boxing Day win at Stevenage.

But boss Mark Robins would like to keep the 24-year-old former Crewe man.

"I'd like to sign James permanently but, if not that, then on loan again. We will see what can be done in January," he told BBC Sport.

Bailey, who joined Derby in May 2010 along with John Brayford in a seven-figure double deal from Crewe, became Robins' fourth signing in five days when he arrived at the Ricoh Arena back in September.

After missing three months of last season with an ankle injury, Bailey, who can play in midfield or at right-back, reclaimed his place in December, but then made only two more starts from mid-January onwards - and he remained out of favour under Nigel Clough this term prior to his move to the Ricoh.

The pursuit of Bailey is one of a whole package of deals that Sky Blues boss Robins hopes to conclude come the new year once the club have resolved their future at the Ricoh.

Arena Coventry Limited claim, the club's landlords, claim that the Sky Blues owe £1.1m in rent arrears and had given them until Boxing Day to pay up - or face a winding-up petition.

That deadline has now been extended until 2 January, after which Robins is keen to get the green light to extend the loans of Bailey, Sunderland defender Blair Adams and top scorer David McGoldrick from Nottingham Forest, as well as also tieing up the signing of Charlton Athletic striker Leon Clarke, who is currently there on trial.