2026-27 Recruitment Plan for Lincoln City

Player Decisions

Retain

George Wickens, Zach Jeacock, Deji Elerewe, Josh Honohan, Sonny Bradley, Tom Hamer, Ryley Towler, Adam Reach, Tendayi Darikwa, Dom Jeffreies, Ivan Varfolomeev, Conor McGrandles, Tom Bayliss, Reeco Hackett, Jack Moylan, Rob Street, Ben House, Freddie Draper

Release

Oisin Gallagher, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Jamie Pardington, Adam Jackson

Loan End

Kamil Conteh, Ryan One, Alfie Lloyd

Loan Out

Zane Okoro, JJ McKiernan, Oscar Thorn

Retained Squad

New Signings

Leo Hjelde (Sunderland – fee)

Michael Skubala earned a strong reputation at Leeds United for overseeing such a talented group of players. He has not utiised that connection as much as I think he would do so far with The Imps, yet that is something they could do this summer to land a player who I feel would be a coup for the Championship; Leo Hjelde. 

On the books at Premier League Sunderland, regular minutes are likely to remain a seldom commodity, and he may have to find himself a move away from the club in order to get that opportunity. Joining a coach that has played such an integral part of his early development as a player may represent a logical next step for his career. 

Capable of playing as a centre-back or left-back, Leo Hjelde is comfortable anywhere down the left-hand side. 

I think that he has another level to go in his game. A good size. Strong in the air. A ball-playing defender. Comfortable defending wide spaces. Physically imposing. Forward-thinking in wanting to progress the ball from deep. I personally feel that he would provide real benefit playing as a left-back whereby he can play as a makeshift centre-back in possession, and with a bit of tweaking in his game I am confident he can make a real success of his career. 

He has a year left on his deal with The Black Cats, but I think that he would be a smart investment on a long-term deal. The chance to play regularly in the second tier. Only 22 years of age. Off the back of a loan at Sheffield United. A huge amount of long-term potential. A lot of really coachable attributes. 

Harrison Murray-Campbell (Chelsea – loan)

Tendayi Darikwa has been an ever present for The Imps this term. Honohan has signed, and while predominantly a left-back is capable of playing off the right. Yet, I think The Imps could still do with a right-back – ideally a younger profile – to support Darikwa. 

The option that interests me most on the market is Chelsea youngster Harrison Murray-Campbell. Skubala has got good contacts and a strong reputation within the youth game from his days at Leeds United, and so is well-placed to identify young talent capable of making the step-up. Not least, the ideal coach to get them playing at their best. 

One of the benefits of signing a player like Murray-Campbell is his versatility. Capable as a centre-back or right-back. While they have favoured a back four this term, I could envisage a world in which The Imps perhaps try to find solutions next term in the Championship going to a back three at times. At the very least, having that option in the arsenal is handy. 

The 19-year-old is 6ft 2in, and predominantly a centre-back, yet has got the mobility and technical composure to defend wide spaces. A good technical background, comfortable playing out, and a strong out-and-out defender. He has got a nice all-round profile. 

The Imps haven’t asked for too much in the way of attacking involvement from Darikwa this term – more so tasked with being defensively strong – and so signing a player who is perhaps more so suited centrally and is a box defender more so than a progressive right-back is a good fit for this Imps side. 

He has yet to get first-team minutes, and so a loan out in first-team football would do him the world of good. Even if he is not a regular option, he can offer a backup to Darikwa. Cover as a right-sided centre-back. I think that working under a coach such as Skubala would do wonders for his development. 

Jamie Allen (Coventry City – free)

This would be very off-brand for Lincoln City given their accumulation of so many high-stock young talents, yet The Imps have proven themselves as being too strong strategically to ignore the value that a player of this profile could have for City in staying up at the first time of asking. 

City’s version of Isaac Hayden to Portsmouth. By no means a 46-game candidate. Experienced. Got the Championship T-Shirt. Appreciation of getting points at the level. The same way Sonny Bradley and James Collins have been to this Imps side in League One. The ‘glue’ of the operation. Perhaps unsung. Often underappreciated. Yet, significantly impactful. 

With Coventry City winning promotion, I think there may be a few casualties and 31-year-old Allen is one I feel may be set for tough conversations of the coming month. Used sparingly in 2025-26. Perhaps lacking the pace and mobility for the top flight. Already a bit-part figure, and likely increasingly so going forward. I think a Championship option would be of interest. 

Allen offers City slightly different skillsets to that in the building. Slightly more aggressive in the tackle. A leader. Model professional. Reads the game well. Effective in all three midfield roles, albeit is perhaps more so in a deeper-lying position. 

He would be a coup to land at Sincil Bank given that he has been such an integral part of The Sky Blues in their promotion this term and competitive edge at the top end of the Championship for a number of years. However, if they can land him, I think that is the type of signing that might go under the radar, yet functionally would provide real benefit for The Imps both on and off the field. 

Theo Mawene (Brentford – loan)

Looking at the midfield options that The Imps have at their disposal, I think that they could do with an athletic, powerful, attacking mifielder that has got the engine to drive into the box, carry the ball and break the lines. 

One option that excites me on the market is Theo Mawene. Currently on the books at Brentford, in and around the first-team, and highly-rated in Bees circles. Yet to play for The Bees. Progressed through Preston North End’s academy. Only 18 years of age. A first-team loan would do him the world of good. 

As a player, Mawene is a powerful player. He plays with a real swagger, the confidence to take the ball on the half turn and under pressure, and the physicality to effect the game. He takes risks in the final third. Always looking to break the lines. Play forward. Drive the boal to goal. 

Given that The Imps’ approach has been fairly direct in the first-phase in utilising the cross-field switches to their wide #9’s, there is definitely scope for them to have more of an engine at the tip of midfield, and who is technically competent. They’ve got Jack Moylan, yet Mawene is a presence, shields the ball well, and has a powerful shot on him. 

I don’t expect Lincoln City – understandably – to be making wholesale changes to their squad, and as such a durable option such as Mawene provides real value for money for The Imps. Predominantly a #10, yet has been tipped as being technically and physically capable of playing in any midfield role, as a wing-back or a centre-back. 

Alfie Lloyd (QPR – fee)

One player that I think will be at the top of Lincoln City’s agenda during the summer regarding a potential move to Sincil Bank is QPR youngster Alfie Lloyd. The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful loan with The Imps in 2025-26, and so is a player they likely retain an interest going forward.

As a player, I think Lloyd represents a really intriguing profile for a coach. Physically, he is a powerful and athletic player. Such power and explosive speed in his running. A good ball-carrier direct-to-goal. Someone who plays on the last line of the opposition. Good at working the ball onto his right and carrying inside to get shots off. A good athlete. A size. A decent leap on him. Fairly technical and quick feet, and a competent dribbler. There are some nice skillsets for a wide attacking player.

One of the advantages with Lloyd is he can play off the left-hand side as a winger or centrally as a #9. I don’t think he is polished enough yet to consistently be used as the latter – especially a level up in the Championship – but I think he can be hugely effective as a left winger.

In terms of his development, I feel the next step in taking his game to the next level is in adding that bit of aggression and ‘nastiness’ to his game. For a player of his physical profile, he should be really taking full-backs to the proverbial cleaners. Isolating them in 1-on-1 duels. Going for the ‘jugular. Very much reminiscent of the development in Ephron Mason-Clark’s game over the course of the last 12-18 months.

The Hoops could make the argument that if they are to sell to Lincoln City – now a divisional rival – then there is little point in selling, but I think that the player themselves will want to move on, and would entertain the opportunity to re-join The Imps.

The top end of the pitch is one area in which Queens Park Rangers are already fairly well-stocked, and so they may be willing to sell if they can get the right price. Up to £1million as rough guide, I’d say. A sizeable outlay at this stage, but the like of which that – under Skubala’s coaching – I feel they can get a return on.

I’d imagine that Alfie Lloyd’s signature this season will have been with half an eye on the opportunity of almost a ‘try before you buy’ style deal, and so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the youngster making a permanent return to Sincil Bank. If so, I think that would be a good move for the sake of his career.

Tommy Watson (Sunderland – loan)

Michael Skubala and The Imps have got joy this term playing predominantly with four #9’s in the four most advanced roles within a 4-2-3-1 system. As they step up into the Championship, I think they could well benefit from adding a more traditional wide player, and a winger that is perhaps more comfortable receiving the ball in transition. 

While he has featured sparringly in 2025-26 on loan at Millwall, Watson is a player I think represents a good option for the level. Broke through at Sunderland, the odd bright spark for a rather direct Millwall side, and some first-team exposure at Brighton an Hove Albion. Still only 19 years of age.

One of the reasons as to why I think Skubala would be well-placed to go in for Watson is his physical profile. While a tricky and technical ball-carrier, Watson is 6ft 3in and unusually proficient in the air. Playing off the left, I feel that he would be a strong stylistic fit for Imps’ approach in building direct off the left as we have seen this term. 

Skubala has referenced the fact that they are going to have to be a young and vibrant side in 2026-27, with an emphasis on energy, pressing, pace and hunger to succeed. At 19 years of age, Watson buys into that. 

He offers The Imps more technical craft that they perhaps don’t get in playing largely #9’s off the flanks. Quick feet. Can play in tight spaces. Trickery off either foot. Nice balance. Direct. Can ride challenges. The acceleration to create separation in transition. Effective most coming in off the left as a wide #10, and in isolating opposition full-backs. He can carry the team up the pitch, good at buying fouls, and give The Imps something a little different. 

Tyrese Shade (Burton Albion – fee)

Lincoln City have had real success out of signing young players with a point to prove from lower in the pyramid, and getting the best out of them under a top coach. One player that I think would be a wise investment for The Imps is Tyrese Shade. 

I had the odd concern over his ability to step up from the National League into League One in one foul swoop, yet he has batted away those fears by proving himself as a real talent. Major improvement in such a short space of time. Adapting his game from a winger to a #9. Sharpening up his end product and decision-making. He’s now a top end League One attacking player. 

With the business that The Imps do, I think there has to be both a view on a long-term project that can be Championship quality, yet will perform in League One in the event they go down. Finding that middle ground is tough. Shade – however – is that, and I feel gives The Imps an exciting profile that Skubala will no doubt relish working with. 

As a player, Shade is quick and direct. A powerful runner. Incredible athlete. A strong leap and decpetively strong in the air. A good dribbler. That all-round profile makes him a good fit for playing off the right-hand side in this Imps side where the initial build-up is direct, and then an emphasis on fast transitions, high energy and direct-to-goal running. 

He is 25 years of age, and so very much coming into the prime of his career. On an upward trajectory. Full of confidence. An infectious character with a strong work-rate and willingness to do well. I think that he would be a smart bit of business for City. 

Anton Matkovic (Osijek – fee)

I feel the strength of City’s financial and off-field position may afford the luxury of a ‘hero’ signing in lieu of signing solely from internal of the EFL. High future potential will likely remain an integral attribute, and so I think Anton Matkovic may be one both of interest and attainable. 

The Imps’ approach has been fairly direct in build-up in utilising diagonals and positioning aerially competent players in wide areas. Any striker City sign has to be capable in the air. Good size. Matkovic provides the ticks in those boxes. He is 6ft 3in. Functionally has been played out wide. 

If City are to ‘splash out’ on a player, I think identifying an option from the continent in a secondary ranking league (outside the Top Five) may be feasible (e.g. Salech-esque signing). A signing that they can secure for £2-4million on a long-term deal with a sell-on, and use the lure and shop window of Championship football as the ideal opportunity to elevate his own long-term prospects. 

In many ways, I actually feel Matkovic can be a bit of a unicorn player for The Imps. Only 20. Despite his frame, he is deceptively quick. Left-footed. Technically strong. Best of both worlds in an aerially proficient player, yet has the all-round game to play higher than he is. A lot of long-term value. He needs to sharpen up assets of his game, yet there isn’t a manager better – on recent record – for that than Skubala. 

By no means prolific, and still a little raw. The Imps have shown a good track record in recent years of taking low-output, high-potential strikers and elevating their stock (e.g. Street, Draper). I am confident Matkovic could represent a credible project for City.