The Imps have been credited with a ‘significant’ bid for 22-year-old striker Rob Street, as per Jon Palmer.
Before I go on, I’ll be clear that this is one rumour I can believe in. I don’t know anything, as people suggest, but those who pay close attention around the club will know Street’s name has been mentioned in the past.
Last season, the 22-year-old was with Cheltenham, and I understand we may have had interest after he left Crystal Palace. Now, I know internet sleuths will look at his goals return and turn up their noses, but there’s much more to Street than just goals. He’s a pressing centre forward, and one that Cheltenham reporter Palmer said he is a ‘far better player than the stats show‘.
Who is Rob Street? He started life as a youth at Crystal Palace, rising throguh the ranks to earn a pro deal. He joined Torquay United on loan in 2021, then stepped up to League Two with Newport County, again on loan, with three goal involvements. In 2022/23, he moved to Shrewsbury, scoring four goals for them from 43 outings.
Understand League One club Lincoln City have made a significant bid for Cheltenham Town forward Rob Street, having been impressed with his form during loan spell at Shrewsbury Town in 2022/23 and during the first half of last season at #ctfc #weareimps pic.twitter.com/5OXoEPWPna
— Jon Palmer (@JonPalmerSport) June 29, 2024
He was released by Palace at the end of his contract and signed for the Robins, where injury ruled him out for part of the season. He bagged three goals in his 22 appearances for them as they were relegated, and he has two years left of his three-year deal.
He is a centre forward who is known more for his work rate than his goals – that means running, pressing and harassing. In a side like ours, where we do have goalscorers (Walker and Draper), we’re perhaps looking for a Ben House understudy, someone who does a lot of the tough work, the grafting, to free time and space for those more naturally gifted in front of goal.
In all of his Football League spells, he has underperformed his xG, meaning he’s had more chances to score than he’s taken, but that shouldn’t necessarily be a negative – it means he does get into better positions than his finishing suggests, and that can be worked on. However, whilst Street is a striker, I can’t help but feel this one is all about the other work, everything Ben House is known for.
It will be interesting to see how it develops over the coming days.