Transfer demand sent to Lincoln City owners to fix key squad issue | OneFootball

FLW's Imps fan pundit has had his say on where Michael Skubala's side needs to improve ahead of next month's League One opener

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Lincoln City are going into their seventh consecutive League One season off the back of a third straight top-half finish.

The Imps have settled as a consistently solid third-tier side over the past few terms, but the ambition will be there to replicate their 2020/21 play-off finish in the upcoming campaign.

Despite losing Sean Roughan and Paudie O’Connor this summer on free transfers, bringing in the likes of Portsmouth defender Ryley Towler and veteran centre-back Sonny Bradley has seen Michael Skubala’s side replace their defensive departures with minimal fuss.

So, the majority of Lincoln fans will be content with their squad going into 2025/26, but there is always room for improvement, and FLW’s Imps fan pundit, Gary Hutchinson, believes his side could do with bringing in an out-and-out left-back ahead of their season opener against fellow promotion-hopefuls Reading.

Lincoln City fan pundit issues sole transfer demand this summer

Speaking to Football League World, Hutchinson said, “With one month left in the transfer window, I’d say the one demand I’d send to our owner is to buy a left-back as it’s the one thing we don’t have.

“Ryley Towler, our recent signing from Portsmouth, can cover left back if needed, Reeco Hackett possibly could too, but he’s certainly more of a winger, and Dom Jefferies maybe too, but he’s out of action until November.”

Throughout last season, Lincoln manager Michael Skubala switched between playing a back three and a back four. When playing a back four, Ireland U21 international Roughan deputised there.

Losing him to Huddersfield Town has been a big blow this summer, with the 22-year-old being one of three outfielders to play every minute of the 2024/25 League One campaign, alongside Reading’s Lewis Wing and Bristol Rovers’ James Wilson.

“There’s a feeling that Towler came in to replace Roughan,” Hutchinson continued, “but he isn’t a like-for-like as he’s a left-sided centre-back who can play left back.

“So to have that balance, we need a more naturally left-sided defender.”

Michael Skubala’s formation could determine whether a left-back is needed at Lincoln this summer

Whilst Michael Skubala did end the season playing a flat back four, the Lincoln boss came to the LNER Stadium primarily playing three centre-backs, and started this season doing such as well.

As Hutchinson alluded to, both Reeco Hackett and Dom Jefferies can play in the wing-back role on the left side, but both are better suited going forward than they are in defence.

Perhaps if Skubala is set to once again switch between the two setups in 2025/26, signing someone like Towler, who can operate on the left side of defence if needed, may be the right decision, as the Imps could go months without playing a recognised left-back.

However, bringing someone into that position who could operate as a more defensive-minded wing-back could be the wiser choice at Lincoln this summer, putting them in a better position to win games and try and break into the top six once more.