The Imps are closing in on a deal for Arsenal defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy, according to journalist James Benge.
The defensive area is certainly one we need reinforcements in, and it seems that versatility is the way forward as we eye an 18-year-old who plays primarily at right-back, but who can operate in the middle of defence as well. Norton-Cuffy is highly-rated at Arsenal, but then it’s rare you sign a young player on loan who is not described as ‘highly rated’, isn’t it?
The defender, who signed his first professional contract a year ago, has been playing Under 23 football, and has not yet had a senior spell out on loan. He is described as a powerful and technical full back, which does conjure up images of TJ Eyoma from last season (let’s hope if it does go ahead, it’s not the TJ Eyoma from early 2020!).
“Arsenal’s Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who turned 18 last week, is set to join Lincoln on loan,” wrote Benge on Twitter. “He has been playing with Gunners U23s for more than a year; Imps short on numbers at the back and Arsenal believe fighting for L1 minutes more valuable than PL2 football right now.”
As well as Arsenal, the youngster has England honours, which Benge outlined in a second tweet. “He has played CB on occasion with Arsenal youth setup, possibly a bit of LB as well with England.”
I’ve done a bit of digging, and this article from the Daily Cannon (a proper Arsenal fan site) sheds more light on the type of player we may be looking to bring in.
“What’s struck me about Norton-Cuffy watching him recently is that he seems to do the simple things in possession consistently well. He’s positive and forward-thinking, but without taking the kind of risks you get punished for. He’s confident to knock the ball past you and battle for the space using his acceleration and his ability to shield it, and he’s making some good chances.”
It seems that the club are sensing that the Poole and Eyoma partnership is going to be steadier than any possible loan, and that with Adam Jackson and Joe Walsh not far away, it makes more sense to bring in a right back to fill the one position we’ve got a player truly out of position at present. In Norton-Cuffy, it seems there’s an attack-minded right back who doesn’t take unnecessary risks, which will suit us down to the ground.
I tend to look unfavourably on some journalists and reports of us signing players, but this one seems about as solid as it gets, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the player in a Lincoln City shirt at Plymouth on Saturday.