Lincoln City could be set for a transfer boost, with news that Falkirk have signed a striker this morning.
City are thought to be one of a number of clubs chasing a deal for £1m-rated Falkirk striker Barney Stewart. Reports recently suggested the Imps had seen a £1m bid rejected for the 22-year-old, and while those figures have not been confirmed, it is understood City do like the player.
Falkirk are under no pressure to sell, with Stewart recently signing a new deal, and their asking price is believed to be more than £1m. However, this morning, they secured a move for Brentford B striker Ethan Laidlaw, who signed a two-year deal with the Bairns. The 21-year-old forward has left Brentford, having previously spent time in the youth ranks at Hibernian, and his contract includes the option of a further 12 months.
Laidlaw has been capped by Scotland up to Under-19 level and arrives after a promising spell with Brentford B, where he featured mainly as a striker but was also used out wide during the season. Falkirk manager John McGlynn said the club were delighted to bring him in, highlighting his direct running, power, strength and ability to get into goalscoring positions: that sounds a lot like Stewart’s profile.
Could it be that this is the first move in the chain that will see Stewart move? If it is, then we are in the hunt, but given that West Brom have had a £1m bid turned down, it would be bold to suggest it is anything more than a boost to all chasing parties.
Stewart has enjoyed a rapid rise after starting out at Queens Park Rangers before taking a less conventional route through university football with Heriot-Watt, before joining Falkirk in 2024, then impressed on loan at Dunfermline Athletic with eight goals in 12 matches. After being recalled by Falkirk, he continued his form in the Scottish Premiership and finished the campaign with 18 goals, also earning the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Young Player of the Year award.
The striker’s profile appears to fit the sort of forward we are looking for, with strong physical numbers, regular penalty-box involvement and an aerial presence at 6ft 3in. He knows where the net is, contests a high number of offensive and aerial duels, and also contributes defensively from the front.
However, with Championship clubs, top-end League One sides and possible European interest all circling, any Lincoln move looks challenging, even if the interest itself suggests City may be prepared to compete at a higher transfer level than in previous windows.
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