Finn Surman
Finn Surman feels like the sort of defender Lincoln City would at least spend time looking at closely. The 22-year-old Portland Timbers centre back already has 13 caps for New Zealand, is heading to the 2026 World Cup, and, importantly from a recruitment perspective, would not require a work permit after being born in Wales.
Standing at 190cm, Surman has started all 12 of his MLS appearances so far this season, playing 1,071 minutes and contributing one assist without picking up a single booking. He operates primarily as the right-sided centre back in a back four and came through the Wellington Phoenix academy before making his senior debut at just 18 years old.
Portland’s overall style is difficult to pin down statistically because their numbers are fairly chaotic across the board, but Surman himself stands out clearly. His in-possession numbers are fairly modest and there is little to suggest he is an elite progressive passer, but defensively, the profile becomes far more interesting.
His defensive duel success and interception numbers are excellent, suggesting a defender who reads the game well and enjoys defending proactively. The blocked shots and overall defensive activity are also notably high. Some of that may come from Portland being one of the weaker defensive teams in the league, but consistently throwing yourself in front of shots and clearing danger is still a skill in itself.
Watching clips, Surman comes across as a fairly traditional no-nonsense centre back. He attacks aerial balls aggressively, clears danger early and seems comfortable defending physically. There is also a leadership aspect to his profile that stands out. Despite being only 22, he has captained the side on occasion and appears highly valued within the squad.
The obvious question from a Lincoln perspective is where exactly he fits. Tom Hamer excelled on the right side of defence last season, and Deji Elerewe is viewed internally as a strong option. The more interesting discussion may be whether Surman could eventually develop into a left-sided centre back in the Sonny Bradley mould, particularly with Adam Jackson’s injury record creating uncertainty around depth in that area.
At the very least, he feels like a young defender with a clear identity and the mentality to step into a demanding environment.