After a brief festival break, it’s time for me to get back into the thick of transfer rumours.
It’s been a welcome few days away for me, drinking beer in the sun with good people and good music, but the rumour mill hasn’t stopped spinning, and the Imps look set for another turbulent summer.
Three Imps in Demand
With the dust just settling on another League One campaign, attention now turns to what could be a defining transfer window for Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City. Three first-team regulars—Ethan Erhahon, Sean Roughan and Paudie O’Connor—are all attracting serious attention, and the club may be powerless to stop at least two of them moving on.
Let’s take stock of where things stand.
Ethan Erhahon
Arguably the most valuable of the three, Ethan Erhahon’s performances over the past 18 months have not gone unnoticed. After joining from St Mirren, the all-action midfielder has become a vital cog in the Imps’ engine room, combining relentless pressing with tidy ball retention.
According to reports from EFL Analysis, the 24-year-old is now being monitored by a host of Championship clubs. Derby County and Blackburn Rovers are leading the chase, but they’re not alone—Oxford United, Millwall, Preston North End and Plymouth Argyle are all believed to be keeping tabs on him.
Graeme Bailey reports that we are expecting a club-record fee should Erhahon depart, but that’s not new news. There’s always been an expectation that if he departs, it will be our first £1m player, which would be difficult for the club to turn down, especially given the desire to reinvest across the squad.
Sean Roughan
The news around Sean Roughan has been a little quieter but no less significant. The Irish defender, who came through the ranks at Lincoln, is out of contract this summer. While the club will receive a compensation fee due to his age, that hardly softens the blow of losing a promising left-sided defender for a nominal amount.
An unnamed club have agreed a compensation package with Lincoln for defender Sean Roughan, who is out of contract next month, and he has been given permission to hold talks over a potential move. A number of Championship and League One clubs have shown interest in Roughan. #Imps pic.twitter.com/4Jt47hYBIm
— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) May 10, 2025
Pete O’Rourke confirmed on Twitter that a deal has already been struck between Lincoln and an unnamed club. Roughan has been granted permission to speak to potential suitors, with Championship and League One clubs both interested. This would suggest it’s not Hearts, as they’d be less likely to agree on a deal with us, as they’d expect a lower compensation fee.
Paudie O’Connor
Then there’s the club captain. Paudie O’Connor is another player likely to depart this summer, with his contract set to expire and the financial gap between what Lincoln can offer and what others are willing to pay being one hurdle. However, it’s not believed Paudie is just chasing a payday – he wants to be at least challenging for promotion or, even better, playing in the Championship. I understand that is his main driver, and I can 100% understand, as it was the same with Regan Poole a couple of seasons back.
There’s been a host of clubs linked, with Derby County and Stoke City front-runners for his signature, although Huddersfield Town and Barnsley are also circling. O’Connor has been a rock at the back since joining from Bradford City, and while Michael Skubala told the BBC there’s still a chance he could stay, it does feel more like wishful thinking than realistic expectation. That said, we thought the same about Sean Roughan two seasons ago, so you never know.
Conclusion
It’s never ideal to return from a few days away to news of your club being picked apart—but here we are. I twas. expected, and those websites (should that be ‘these’ websites?) need to generate clicks. Fans want the latest news, and if they can’t get news, they want rumours. Hell, I expect Nick Oxberry will start messaging again on a daily basis now as well. The joys of the transfer window.
All three of these players have been central to City’s progression over the past two seasons. Erhahon, with his calm under pressure and relentless work rate; Roughan, the composed ball-playing defender; and O’Connor, a true leader on and off the pitch. Their potential exits are a reminder of where we sit in the footballing food chain. When the Championship comes calling, and the money makes sense, it’s hard to say no.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. If Erhahon does fetch a seven-figure sum, that’s money The Imps haven’t had to play with in years. Used wisely, it could help Skubala reshape the squad, especially with the retained list offering opportunities for fresh blood.
This summer is set to be pivotal. If these three are to go, the club must ensure they go on our terms, and that the replacements are ready not just to fill boots, but to kick the club on.
We’ve done it before. We can do it again.
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