COVENTRY CITY'S transfer woes are set to take a turn for the better with the capture of Aberdeen's Eoin Jess for £2 million and Republic of Ireland and Birmingham defender, Liam Daish for £1.5 million.
The Sky Blues, who have been spurned by two recent targets when deals appeared to have been completed, are confident about their latest double swoop, with both players expected to sign this week.
Daish, twice capped for the Republic of Ireland, was left out of Birmingham's squad to face Barnsley in an English League division one clash at St Andrew's last night, despite being available .again after suspension.
Atkinson had said earlier: "The Daish deal is completed subject to formalities.
Jess, the 25-year-old striker-turned-midfielder, has been persuaded to move to Highfield Road by Atkinson and his assistant, former Aberdeen star Gordon Strachan.
"I've been speaking to Mr Atkinson and Gordon, who are very ambitious," said Jess. "Hopefully, I can do a job and help Coventry stay in the Premiership.
"I came down with an open mind because of the situation Coventry are in. But they are a big club, I've seen the set-up and it's tremendous."
Strachan revealed: "We feel Eoin Jess is the shape of English football to come. We are trying to progress into becoming one of the top clubs and to play football as it should be played.
Now, along with Daish, he looks like being plunged into Coventry's match against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Aberdeen manager, Roy Aitken, admitted he was resigned to losing the Scotland star, whose contract with the Dons expires this summer.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland midfielder Neil Lennon, who shook hands with Atkinson on a move from Crewe last week, is to have talks with Leicester tomorrow regarding a £750,000 move to Filbert Street.
Leicester boss Martin O'Neill aims to make the 24-year-old, who changed his mind about joining Coventry after discussing the switch with his family, one of three new signings this week.
O'Neill is also involved in negotiations with Tottenham for out-of-favour defenders David Kerslake and Jason Cundy, who are unhappy at not being able to break into Gerry Francis' first team plans at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, who originally wanted £1 million for the pair, are now willing to accept £800,000.
O'Neill has cash to spend after last week's £1 million sale of mid-fielder Steve Corica and goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac to former Filbert Street boss Mark McGhee's new club Wolves.
But he has thwarted a bid from McGhee to sign Wales striker Iwan Roberts - even though McGhee was prepared to use former England winger Tony Daley as bait.
"My answer was an emphatic no. I've no interest at all in selling Roberts," said O'Neill, who has recently been strongly linked with Birmingham striker Steve Claridge.
