The Highfield Road club have captured 23 year old Peru striker ‘Cachete’ Zúñiga and his club and international team mate Walter Zevallos from FBC Melgar for a combined fee of £1.5 million.

Zúñiga has just won the 'Golden Boot Award' for all of South America after notching 32 goals in just 26 games in his first season in top flight football. He starred for his country in the Copa America tournament and has won eight full caps this year.

Twenty-two year old Zevallos is a fast left fullback and also a full international.

Coventry have applied for a work permit for Zúñiga, but Zevallos carries a Spanish passport and it therefore automatically eligible for Premiership football. The two are expected to arrive at the club next month.

Coventry Chairman Bryan Richardson said the club had hired former Argentine World cup star Rene Houseman as their chief scout for South America.

He said: 

"These are exceptionally exciting signings and we have had to fight off interest from South American and Italian clubs. We have been tracking Zúñiga for several months and have been very excited by what we have seen of him. We are convinced both will do very well in the Premiership.

"Brazil are Argentina are very well covered by international scouts but there is a lot of talent in all the other South American countries and we have to move quickly to take advantage.

"I think the signings show the level of our ambition. We want to take the club forward by signing exciting players. We did that this summer with our two Moroccans Youssef Chippo and Moustapha Hadji, plus of course Robbie Keane and will look anywhere for the right talent.

"We are doing well at present and now is the time to buy. These players will come into a confident squad and that will make it all the easier for them to settle in at the club."