City Linked With Permanent Swoop For Scotland Under 21 International

January 30, 2023 Gary Lincoln City, Rumours, Transfers 0

Credit Graham Burrell

The Imps have been linked with a permanent deal for St Mirren midfielder Ethan Erhahon.

Midfielder Erhahon is hot property in Scotland, having represented their Under 21 team, but he’s been the subject of intense speculation over the winter window. Oxford and Forest Green have both allegedly had bids lodged for the player, with a six-figure bid from the latter accepted. It seems the player may not have fancied the move as it hasn’t materialised, and now we’re at the head of the queue.

The Glasgow-born 21-year-old is out of contract this summer, and it’s believed St Mirren are hoping to cash in now, rather than risk getting a lower fee courtesy of the tribunal system later in the year. Jez George is reported to have visited St Mirren this weekend to watch the midfielder, with a bid seemingly having been prepped. Football League World have tweeted that a £300,000 deal has been agreed upon; my understanding is the actual figure is some way south of that.

Who is Ethan Erhahon? He’s St Mirren born and bred, having come through their youth system, as well as representing his country from Under 17 to under 21 level. He’s appeared 96 times in the Scottish top flight, so is experienced in terms of senior football. As I’ve said, he’s highly regarded up north, and when this name first crossed the rumour mill this weekend, I know there was some excitement from informed supporters.

Erhohan is a left-footed central midfielder who can operate as a six or further forward if required. He is exactly what I believe the club needs right now, and as a young player coming in (hopefully) on a proper deal, he might keep some dissidents happy for a little while longer. He’s certainly highly regarded north of the border – in a recent interview Stephen Robinson said the player was vital for a game against Celtic because of his ability to take pressure off by using the ball well. That suggests he is capable of dictating a game, of picking a pass and, crucially, doing it against all levels of opposition. There’s no coincidence that our lacklustre outings of late have coincided with Matty Virtue’s injury.

The Daily Record have announced a fee has been agreed as I’ve written this, so it seems a case of watching this space. It’s my understanding that if we land Erhahon, we will have landed our primary central midfield target for the window. That alone has got to be a huge positive after a tough couple of weeks.