Significant Coventry City investment in 2023 is at risk of becoming a flop deal: View | OneFootball

The striker has only managed one goal in 10 Championship appearances so far this season.

Coventry City signed Ellis Simms from Everton for an undisclosed fee in 2023.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Sky Blues paid up to £8m for the striker.

Simms was bought as a replacement for Viktor Gyokeres, who departed for Sporting Lisbon for a club record fee, reported to be close to £20m, as per BBC Sport.

Although the 23-year-old contributed a respectable number of goals last season, he is struggling for form this campaign and has been in and out of the side.

Considering the reported fee paid for Simms, his transfer to the Coventry Building Society Arena is in jeopardy of becoming a flop.

Ellis Simms initially made an impact at Sunderland

When Simms signed for Coventry in 2023, the move appeared to be a sensible one considering his impact at Sunderland the previous season.

The striker enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Black Cats in the first half of the 2022/23 season, scoring seven goals in 17 appearances. Partnering Ross Stewart, the duo forged an enviable partnership at the Stadium of Light.

Such was his success, that Frank Lampard recalled the striker early from his season-long loan spell to provide Everton with options in the forward position.

While Simms made 11 Premier League appearances for the Toffees, he never looked comfortable in the top flight and made the move to Coventry at the end of the season.

Ellis Simms made headlines in his debut season at Coventry City

After his permanent move from Everton, Simms struggled for goals at the start of his Coventry career. The striker only managed two goals in his opening 24 matches, with both coming against Queens Park Rangers in September.

Despite his forgettable start to life in the West Midlands, the 23-year-old was determined to put his poor form behind him and pressed on in the second half of the season.

Simms enjoyed a purple patch and netted 11 times in 16 Championship matches, scoring a hat-trick in Coventry's 5-0 demolition of Rotherham United in March.

The striker's impact in the league worked in tandem with his blistering form in the FA Cup, with Simms scoring six goals in Coventry's run to the semi-finals.

Although the Englishman notched a hat-trick against non-league side Maidstone United, his most famous goal came against Manchester United in the semi-finals at Wembley.

It was Simms' goal that triggered a comeback, with the Sky Blues coming from three goals down to tie the match 3-3; Mark Robins' men went on to lose 7-5 on penalties.

Having scored 19 goals in all competitions last season, it was expected that Simms would kick on this term and become a leading Championship striker.

However, things have not gone to plan for the 23-year-old, and he is struggling for form, with one league goal in his opening 10 league games.

Although the striker started in Coventry's 1-0 defeat to Preston North End, he has been in and out of the side, suggesting that Robins has lost confidence in him.

Brandon Thomas-Asante has benefited from Simms' poor form and has started a handful of games recently, but he also only has one league goal to his name this season.

Simms will look to his exploits from the second half of last season for inspiration, but if he cannot turn around his torrid run of form, then the label of 'flop' will inevitably start doing the rounds.

Simms gave Coventry fans several moments to savour last season, with two hat-tricks and an unforgettable moment against Man United.

While the striker was expected to continue his fine form from the end of the 2023/24 campaign, he has struggled for goals, with one league goal in his opening 10 games.

If the 23-year-old is unable to reverse his poor form, then he risks becoming a flop at the Coventry Building Society Arena.