With 2024 in the rear view mirror, LincSport looks back at the year that Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City had.
In this part, the team casts an eye on the transfers that the Imps made during the summer window, before looking ahead to potential January recruits.
Summer Departures:
The summer transfer window saw many key players exit for new clubs.
The Danish duo of Lasse Sorensen and Lukas Jensen found new chapters in their careers at Huddersfield Town and Millwall respectively. Both were rumoured to leave before the season ended, but their departures still were painful for many associated at the club.
Midfielders Danny Mandroiu and Teddy Bishop were released along with forward Hakeeb Adelakun and defender TJ Eyoma, and have all now found new clubs.
Bishop and Adelakun find themselves in League Two at Colchester United and Salford City, with Mandroiu heading back over the waters to Shamrock Rovers in the Republic of Ireland.
Eyoma recently joined Northampton Town in League One, after being without a club for the beginning of the current campaign.
Goalkeeper Jordan Wright joined local rivals Grimsby Town in his bid for regular first team football.
And… Summer Arrivals:
A host of names came into the club over the summer and become first team regulars. Tendayi Darikwa, Tom Bayliss, Dom Jefferies, Zach Jeacock, Jamie Pardington and JJ McKiernan all came in on free transfers.
Rob Street arrived from Cheltenham Town, Conor McGrandles returned after his loan spell at the club last season, Tom Hamer joined from Burton Albion and goalkeeper George Wickens came in from Fulham.
City even started to dip into the foreign transfer market, brining in winger Erik Ring from Swedish side AIK Stockholm.
Finally, young striker Bailey Cadamteri arrived at the LNER Stadium on loan from Sheffield Wednesday.
The likes of Darikwa, McGrandles, Bayliss and Cadamteri have made themselves first team regulars, with the rest struggling to find the game time they may have desired when joining the club.
How about January 2025 for Lincoln City?
City will surely be active in the market coming up, trying to find loan spells for some. Zach Jeacock has already joined Southend United on loan with the likes of Rob Street and JJ McKiernan potential options for loan moves.
The side have struggled with defensive injuries and could dip into the January transfer window to help cover that area.
The Imps have already completed their first business of the new year, securing Dutch defender Lewis Montsma to a new deal with his prior contract coming to an end this January.
The Linc Sports Editor Jamie Johnson gives his view:
“Lincoln definitely have spots to patch up in January, if only to add to the ammunition needed to mount a play-off push akin to the late season surge of the last campaign. The retention of Lewis Montsma was crucial, but another central defender is still needed in my opinion.
“The strength in depth is just not there for a team who impressed so much last term, Alex Mitchell is an absence still being felt by the Imps.
“If there are any high-profile departures in the next few weeks, they would need replacing too. Another attacking option would not go amiss, though a returning Tyler Walker could fill that void. The principle target for me must be another centre-back, potentially on loan.”