Lincoln City are being linked with a move for released Coventry City midfielder Jamie Allen, as reported by Sports Boom.
They’re not a site that has had a lot right in recent years, but this report comes from Neil Goulding, a regular contributor to Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Star and The Sun. I’m not sure if that is good or bad.
Allen, a 31-year-old, leaves the Sky Blues after seven years, having played his part in one of the more impressive modern rises in the EFL, and City are now said to be weighing up whether to move for him. He was listed in a recent speculation article I did on ten free agents we might be interested in, but that was purely guesswork.
The same report suggests the Imps are looking for proven second-tier experience as we prepare for life back in the Championship, which would make Allen an obvious name to assess.
This is the sort of link that makes sense on paper. We have a strong promotion core, but the Championship is a different beast, and there will be a need to add players who understand the level, the pace of it, and the demands across a 46-game season. Allen ticks that box without necessarily being a headline-grabbing name.
Allen Linked With Imps Move
Allen has forged an impressive EFL career. He came through Rochdale’s academy before establishing himself in League One and the Championship with Burton Albion and Coventry, joining the Sky Blues in 2019 and becoming part of their rise under Mark Robins. He helped Coventry win promotion from League One and went on to make 200 appearances in all competitions for the club, including 174 in the league.
His 2025/26 campaign was largely spent in a rotational midfield role, but his numbers remained strong when called upon. Allen averaged a 90 per cent pass completion rate from 37 passes per 90, made more than five recoveries per game and won more than half of his duels. He also scored in Coventry’s 3-1 win against Watford in October, completing 98 per cent of his passes and winning six of his nine duels, while also contributing an assist in a 5-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
This would not be a ‘glamour’ signing, but not every summer move needs to be one. At Championship level, having players who can come into games, keep possession, work without the ball and understand their role is important, particularly for a side looking to settle quickly after promotion.
For the Imps, this summer is going to be about balance. There will be calls for exciting additions, and rightly so, because the jump in quality is significant. However, the less flashy business could be just as important, especially if it means adding players who have already handled the level we are stepping into.