Maltese international linked with City

Reports have emerged today linking Malta international Sam Magri with a move to Lincoln City, after the player rejected a new deal with crisis club Dover Athletic.

Magri (23) can play across the back or in midfield and according to the Non League Paper he is set to be the latest player to join the mass exodus from Dover this summer.

A source ‘close to the player’ has stated:

“He has rejected the offer of a new contract and has decided it’s time for a fresh challenge, hopefully for him it’s in the
Football League. Because of his age, he is 23, Dover are entitled to a certain amount of compensation. But the rules are different if he goes to Scotland. If he ends up there, then the SPL clubs do not have to pay a penny so it is in Dover’s best interests if he plays in England.”

I have had ‘a source close to a player’ quoted on my blog once or twice, and invariably in my experience it is the player himself not wanting to reveal himself. The NLP may be different, I’d wager if anything it is his agent looking to drum up a bit of interest in his product.

We’re not alone in our pursuit of Magri, if the reports are correct.  League One sides Fleetwood Town, Rochdale, Bradford City and Peterborough United are all supposed to also be in the hunt as well as non-league teams Dagenham and Gateshead. A move within the National League is unlikely given that Football League clubs are interested., perhaps Posh are the favourites geographically, but might we have an edge because of how we have developed Sean Raggett?

Portsmouth-born Magri played 46 times in the 2015/16 season alongside Sean Raggett, and this season he’s made a similar number of appearances as Dover just missed out on the play-offs. He represented England at Under 16, 17, 18 and 19 levels before switching to Malta in November 2016. He’s appeared for his country as recently as Saturday, and has three World Cup qualifying caps to his name.

Primarily he likes to operate as a centre half or at right-back, he’s just over six feet tall and served his apprenticeship with Pompey before spells at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers. He appears to be one of the ‘lost generation’ of players that came up through the England youth ranks but wasn’t given an opportunity at his parent club. He’s now hungry for another stab at the Football League.