The Imps could end up paying £100,000 or more for striker Rob Street, but only with add-ons and clauses.
That’s according to journalist Jon Palmer, who has announced that the player has now passed a medical and is expected to join the club today from Cheltenham Town.
Street, a striker the Imps have monitored for a while, is thought to be on the verge of becoming the Imps fifth permanent signing of the summer, hot on the heels of yesterday’s capture, JJ McKiernan. However, there’s some consternation about the price coming out of the Robins fanbase.
Many of their supporters expected to see a fee that topped what was paid for Will Goodwin by Oxford United. They splashed out £400,000 on his services, and Robins’ supporters expected that for Street, who made quite an impression following his permanent move from Crystal Palace.
However, Palmer has stated that is not the case. “Fee paid by Lincoln City for Cheltenham Town forward Rob Street could reach six figures if all add-ons are triggered, but his former club Crystal Palace receive 40 per cent,” he said on Twitter.
That has promoted a furious response from Cheltenham fans, who clearly see beyond the goals-to-games ratio when it comes to the 22-year-old.
The Oxford-born striker started his career with Palace, coming throguh the youth ranks without making a senior appearance. He did play three times for their Under 21 side in the EFL Trophy, but the bulk of his senior football has come on loan.
A short spell at Torquay brought five goalless appearances, before he turned out 18 times for Newport County, scoring twice. Then came the move that brought him to the Imps’ attention: a loan in League One with Shrewsbury. He was known for his work rate at Salop, turning out 43 times, scoring four goals.
He was released by Palace last summer, and despite rumoured interest from us, he moved to Cheltenham, who had a horrible start to the campaign. They failed to score a league goal between August and October, with Street getting their first against Derby. However, following their relegation, it seems they’re happy to sell.
That has angered supporters, who vented their frustration at the supposed fee on Twitter last night. One even suggested Street is better than Goodwin, who cost Oxford at least four times as much.
This is ridiculous. Could reach six figures. We can’t negotiate for toffee.
— Daniel Hopkins🔴⚪🏴🇬🇧 (@Hoppo101) July 1, 2024
Some serious questions need to be asked if those running the club. The moves made so far and the general approach to the summer has been questionable. It’s difficult to have any optimism at this stage…
— Higgzy (@HiggzyD) July 1, 2024
I thought the bid was supposed to be “significant”?! So, we collect less than £60k for a player who was IMO better than the one we sold for £400k. This is an absolute joke & all in the same week as when has become clear that our Board had their pants pulled down last Summer!
— Dan Bevan (@danbevan76) July 1, 2024
Could reach 6 figures? The fact it isn’t 6 figures shows something is very wrong at the top
— Ashley Stanford 💙 (@Stanp1pe) July 1, 2024
So without the add ons a five figure fee….lets generously say £80k….of which £32k goes to Palace….so we’ve got under 50k to replace a forward….🧐
— Pete Arthur (@cleevecomment) July 1, 2024
May as well have let him go for free. Our board are an absolute joke. They can’t run a bath never mind a football club.
— Tarran (@tjrw1985) July 1, 2024
This is beyond scandalous, who is making these decisions because they need to removed from their job.
— Mark (@mayhem357_mark) July 1, 2024