Coventry City manager Chris Coleman is resigned to losing Michael Mifsud as it was revealed yesterday that the striker will be handing in a transfer request in the coming days.

Mifsud, 27, has one year remaining on his contract at the Ricoh Arena but with Norwich City, Bristol City and Crystal Palace all showing interest in his signing, Coventry will have to let the player go not to risk losing him for free at the end of the 2008/09 season.

The Malta international was the Sky Blues' top scorer last season, hitting 17 goals in all competitions.

He joined Coventry in 2006 from Norwegian Division One club Lillestrom and left a very positive impact, especially after his exploits in the Carling Cup and the two goals he scored at Old Trafford in Coventry's 2-0 shock win over Manchester United.

Coleman said: "I've spoken with Michael this week and he has agreed with his agent that it's time to move on. He has said he will hand in a transfer request and there's nothing we can do about that.

"We have to move on ourselves and if a club comes in and offers the right money then we'll have to look at it."

Coleman is also looking at the club's interest as Coventry seek to improve on their poor showing in the Championship last season.

"We risk having an unhappy player on our hands and then losing him for nothing," Coleman told reporters.

"If he feels his career is going to progress elsewhere there's nothing we can do about that."

Mifsud started his career in Malta with Sliema Wanderers.

Apart from Lillestrom, he also played for Kaiserslautern in the German Bundesliga.