The Lincoln City summer rumour mill has already started turning, with several players linked as the Imps prepare for life in the Championship. Some of the names feel realistic, some feel ambitious, and some might just be the by-product of City now being seen differently after promotion. Either way, the level of player being mentioned has certainly shifted, with Championship experience, League One standouts and highly rated young prospects all appearing in reports so far.
Charlie Savage
Reading midfielder Charlie Savage was one of the first players linked with City, with Ramy Abou-Setta reporting Lincoln interest in the 23-year-old.
The original fee mentioned, around £1.5m, felt like it would almost certainly rule us out, but suggestions that £800,000 could now be enough to tempt Reading into a sale make it slightly more interesting. Even then, it would still be a significant outlay.
The bigger issue may be Cardiff City. Their interest appears firm, and Savage’s Wales ambitions could play a major part in any decision. Cardiff had Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio and Joel Colwill in the most recent Wales squad, and the route from there to international recognition looks clearer than it might from Reading.
“Though a lot of transfer speculation often comes from agents, this interest seems to be directly coming from the Cardiff side,”
“His love for Wales is clear to see. He worked his way up through the youth ranks of the Wales setup and has a clear affinity to his home nation.”
Savage is a good player, and certainly one who looks more rounded now than he did when first arriving at Reading. He has more than 140 senior appearances, can play as a six, eight or ten, and feels a little like Tom Bayliss in terms of flexibility and ball use.
He scored twice and added four assists last season, and there is probably still a sizeable ceiling there. Whether that ceiling is reached at Lincoln feels doubtful, though. Cardiff look better placed.