The winter window is here, and it has been a regular topic of debate for the Imps down the years, with its importance increasing every year, writes Oliver Burton.
Last season the impact of the window was massive, as it allowed Michael Skubala to re-invigorate his team from the bottom half of the league to within a hair’s width of the League One Playoffs after bringing the likes of Joe Taylor in on a highly successful loan in addition recalling Freddie Draper back to the club. This season’s January window may be similar, as the Imps have a few problem positions to solve in the squad. What are these positions and who could City target to bring in?
Centre Back
This is certainly the main position that remains light in Skubala’s squad, with the first half of the season proving troubling in this department. The Imps currently carry five recognized central defenders – Paudie O’Connor, Adam Jackson, Sean Roughan, Tom Hamer and Lewis Montsma, all of whom are very capable League One defenders. Quality is not the issue here but availability, as there are question marks over Hamer, Jackson and Montsma’s ability to play.
Hamer was injured in City’s last league win against Northampton on the 29th October where he also found the net, suffering a lengthy spell on the side-lines after he received surgery for his injury in November, with Michael Skubala stating he would be missing for ‘a few months’ in his Bristol Rovers pre match press conference back in November.
Lewis Montsma has also had his obvious issues, only recently coming back into the side following his double ACL injuries over the last two years, limiting him to only eight games in that time. The club has done the sensible thing with the Dutchman, allowing him to gradually pace himself back into the starting team and excelling when called upon. However it has become evident that the club are carefully managing Montsma to one game a week, leaving the squad short when there are midweek fixtures to allow long term benefit to Lewis, and this is on top of his contract situation with his current deal expiring next month.
What if there was another injury? Tendayi Darikwa can cover as a central defender, but he does not have the aerial presence of a natural in the position and can be especially exposed with crosses, like at Rotherham after Jackson was forced off, despite his excellent ground dual ability. These fitness concerns point to an extra body being brought in for the defence, who are the potential candidates?
Will Fish – Loan
Enjoyed that one today! 3 points ⚽️💚 pic.twitter.com/W6guIwpvA3
— Will Fish (@_wfish) January 28, 2023
Will Fish is a central defender and former English youth international up to U19, and in the past has been regarded as a promising prospect in the English game, progressing through Manchester United’s academy. This term, he has struggled for game time at Cardiff City after joining permanently in the summer following two impressive loan spells at Hibernian in Scotland, and a move to the Imps could make sense for all parties.
Starting out at Manchester United’s coveted youth setup, Fish made a brief appearance for the Red Devils in the 20/21 season, coming off the bench against Wolves on the final game of the season. Since, he has had loans at Stockport in the National League before spending two successful spells at Hibs in Scotland, where he made 52 SPFL starts across that time, managing to cement his place in a team regularly pushing for Europe.
This loan would be ideal, as Fish has shown the quality in a good league to suggest that he is of the ability to provide solid competition to a group looking to break into the League One’s top 6. The Cardiff man would provide a tactical fit into Skubala’s system as he is known to be a comfortable ball playing defender. Fish managed to complete 80.4% of his passes in the 23/24 SPFL season, as well as providing an assist out of 0.29 expected assists. These attributes to play the ball provide the management team with more dynamics, as he provides a similar profile to Lewis Montsma and could be an alternative to him on the right side of the three. His ball playing ability also allows the Imps to build up from the back, rather than resorting to long balls as often.
Crucially, the ex-Manchester United man is also a good defender, excelling at the basics of defence to a high standard, particularly in his time north of the border. In the 23/24 season, Fish was in the top ¼ for aerial dual success in the SPFL, managing a 67.6% win percentage in that field. He is also a good interceptor, managing 42 across the season, placing him in the top 10% for that too.
Lincoln would be a good fit for the player, as the Imps have shown a good track record of loans in the past, and it is no different with defenders with Alex Mitchell being a top performer on loan last campaign.
Striker
Though not as critical to add as a centre half in my opinion, it always seems that City enter into a transfer window looking for more frontline strength. This case is the opposite than the centre half situation, as rather than there being insufficient depth there is now insufficient quality. This is not to degrade the players currently at the club, as Freddie Draper, Rob Street and Jovon Makama are all young prospects for the future and can be inconsistent as they look to improve.
The club does have quality options, with Ben House being the first name on the team sheet up top, and Bailey Cadamarteri being the clubs top scorer. Who can forget Tyler Walker, the club’s marquee signing last season can still score goals at this level after he returns to fitness, we’ve seen it before.
So why do I believe we need some additions? There is always a risk of losing players, and the most likely is Cadamarteri being recalled by parent club Sheffield Wednesday. This could happen, as the England youth international has perhaps not made as many league starts as he or a large portion of the fanbase would have liked – perhaps down to what Jovon Makama offers in general play – and the Owls could see his lack of starts as a problem and recall him, leaving the Imps without another striker. This could be likely if Cadamarteri is not given any other starts by the new year but given the attacking excellence in the first half against Huddersfield, a front three of House-Makama-Cadamarteri could remain.
If Cadamarteri was to stay, a striker could still be brought in, just with different expectations. We all remember coming out of the summer window in 2023 with the opinion that City were blessed up front after adding Jack Vale on deadline day, only for Walker and House to be injured the next week leaving an already side-lined Vale to be rushed back to fitness, where he was never up to speed. Football can change very quickly.
What are some of the options?
Ryan Oné – Loan
Ryan Oné – Scotland u21 📸 🏴 pic.twitter.com/FI6cadaALD
— The Young Team 🏴 (@The_Young_Team) October 18, 2024
Another loan suggestion, Oné is the profile of player that I believe would be signed in the instance that Cadamarteri were to stay, and perhaps if one of the current attackers had exited. The attacker currently plys his trade for Sheffield United , who sit in the top two of the Championship currently, and has been a fringe player at Bramall Lane this season scoring one goal. The Scot is regarded by the Blades as a hot prospect, being a regular feature in their matchday squads this season, and even starting against Plymouth Argyle.
Coming through the Hamilton Academical youth setup, the 18-year-old was identified by Sheffield United as one for the future, allowing him to develop in the academy whilst the Blades were suffering relegation last term. Oné had made a brief appearance as a substitute in the Premier League last season but has become more involved this campaign. The striker is a quick and physical presence with an eye for goal and could provide competition to Jovon Makama, as they are both hard working attackers off the ball, offering aerial ability.
A current Scottish U-21 international, Oné could be tempted to join the Imps the 6 month loan deal to aid his development, as despite impressing at one of the strongest squads in the league above he is unlikely to play as much as he could at Lincoln. He clearly has the profile to have a successful career in the future, and a loan to League One could be beneficial.
I believe if City were to sign Oné he would be brought in as a rotation option, as he is only young and up and coming. He has definitely shown enough this season in the Championship to suggest that he is a capable player, but it could be hard for him to displace Jovon Makama, as that has even been a struggle for Bailey Cadamarteri.
Project signing
This seems to happen every January and has reaped huge rewards for the Imps in the past. I believe looking for low cost ‘project signings’ is a good idea to do, as there are various benefits to finding a diamond in the rough. The signing of Ben House in January of 2022 came out of nowhere and he has since become a star player at Sincil Bank, becoming the main man up front, leading the club’s league scoring charts this season. Though a different situation, Jack Moylan is also of a similar mould, being brought in last January as a fringe player but worked his way into the team excelling as the season progressed, particularly impressing in the mad March run of form.
The club have stated in the past that they have been looking at several new markets, including Scandinavia where Erik Ring was recently acquired from Swedish giants AIK. The club could once again look to Scandinavia, as many of the leagues’ seasons (including Iceland, Sweden and Norway) have already concluded, meaning that there could be an appetite to look for free agents or players that can become available as the clubs look to finalise their squads for the new season. Ireland can once again be a market to attack in January, as the season schedule is also on a calendar year basis. Who knows? the club could also look at Japan, several Championship clubs as well as Birmingham in the same league as City have signed several Japanese players who have excelled in the country. All of this is paper talk of course, but it would be very exciting if City were to look in these new markets.
Non-league signings may also be looked at by the club, as they are a cheap alternative and have good quality players. The recent signings of the previously mentioned Ben House as well as Jay Benn – who is doing well on loan at Bradford this season – suggest there is an appetite to look outside of the EFL to acquire ‘project players’.
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