Imps In Strong Links With 22-Year-Old Swedish Jewel

August 14, 2024 Gary Headlines, Lincoln City, Rumours, Transfers 0

Credit Graham Burrell

The Imps have been linked with AIK defender Erik Ring in Swedish media, and it’s something I have a feeling could be genuine.

The report suggests that the player has already been over to the UK to have a look around, and is close to a move, joining us from the club we sold Zack Elbouzedi to a couple of seasons ago. So, what is the report, who is Erik Ring, and does it feel like a solid link for us?

The Report

Sportsbladet is a proper outlet in Sweden, not just some clone new aggregation account, so there’s definitely a ‘ring’ of truth to this (sorry).

The report says, “Lincoln City is about to sign Erik Ring, who visited the League One club recently. The player has been visiting the club in recent days and AIK is in agreement with the English club on the framework for a transfer. If all the parties agree and the final details are finalized, a deal can be concluded within the next week. The winger, who is on an expiring contract, is free to talk to other clubs as his contract expires in less than six months.”

This is suggesting that not only are we interested, but we’ve agreed a deal with AIK and have agreed terms with the player. The time frame of ‘the next week’ certainly fits as well.

The Player

Who is Erik Ring? Well, those internet sleuths will have found he plays literally anywhere – Wyscout shows him as playing left midfield, left-wing and occasionally on the right, but he’s also played right back, left back and even centre forward. He’s a 22-year-old who has clearly impressed during his early career, as he’s been capped twice by Sweden at Under 21 level. Despite being right-footed, he does appear to favour the left, but that merely shows an ability to play on either side.

He has been on the fringes of the AIK side this season but impressed in the second tier last season, scoring six goals for Helsingborg and providing an assist. That was mostly from the left wing.

His contract expires in December, but remember, if AIK offered him a new deal, he’d command a fee, so if we are in for him and we are paying a fee, it isn’t foolish as he wouldn’t be available for anything. He’s come through their youth ranks, so any development fee would be half-decent.

I have a feeling there’s a young player here who burst onto the scene with AIK, making 47 appearances in total, but was loaned out to develop and now the club are having to make a big decision. Bear in mind; they were Swedish champions in 2018, the time he was coming through the youth ranks.

We are looking at real quality here. If you’re picked to represent your country at Under 21 level, you have something about yourself. Ring has played six times in Europe for AIK, all in 2022, completing 90 minutes on one occasion.

Is It Accurate?

I report on a lot of transfer news. Most of it is either made up or business already done. Does this fit into either? Possibly. It feels much more like the latter than the former. The report makes no secret that we’ve been talking to the player, and it feels very much like the sort of deal we’d be doing.

Where does he fit? I’m not interested in where he has played because that only shows where he could possibly play for us. I think this is a player with the capabilities to play wing-back. We do need a left-sided wingback, do we not? We’re not sure what Dylan’s situation is, nor do we have an ETA on Reeco. However, with Ring being right-footed, it feels like he’s also offer cover on the other flank, a bit like Jack Burroughs did. Therefore he does tick a massive box in terms of squad gap.

I also think it is a bit too random to be inaccurate. There’s no reason why this would come out because it’s not one of those ‘two and two’ rumours, like linking us with free agent right backs straight after Lasse Sorensen leaves.

I think this is one to watch very closely over the next few days.