The Imps have been linked with a move for 24-year-old midfielder Alastair Smith from Sutton United by journalist Pete O’Rourke.
Smith helped Sutton to 14th in League Two last season, scoring five goals and adding three assists in his 35 outings. His impact on the team was clear – he spent a couple of months out injured in September, and upon his return, his team claimed ten points from a possible 15, winning Young Player of the Season. He finished as the club’s joint-leading scorer the year before with nine goals.
Smith started his career close by, with Mansfield Town, and is Beverly-born. Whilst with the Stags, he had loan spells with Loughborough Dynamo, Frickely, Altrincham and Kettering before his move to Gander Green Lane in July 2021. He penned a two-year deal there and could be out of contract this summer (according to Transfermarkt).
https://twitter.com/29AlistairSmith/status/1659476078514118658
Smith, known as Ali at Sutton, plays on the left side of midfield and certainly fits the profile of player we need. With Max Sanders moving on and Lasse Sorensen being preferred at right wing back, we desperately need a couple of central midfielders, either to pair with Erhahon in a 3-4-3, or perhaps to facilitate a shift to a 3-5-2. Either way, on paper, he has all the right attributes to be a strong signing. He has goals and assists, played more than 3000 minutes of football last season, and is good on the ball. I’m led to believe Sutton fans are gutted that it looks like he is leaving.
If they have offered him a deal, it means nothing – he’s 24 and, therefore, can move for free without us having to pay a fee. All the cards are stacking up nicely – a move closer to home, a midfielder with goals and assists, a good age to develop, and no fee.
More news and opinion on this as it develops.