Lincoln City appear set to miss out on Dundee defender Luke Graham, with Stoke City reportedly close to winning the race for the highly rated Scotland Under-21 international.
Graham has been the subject of significant interest this summer, with the Imps named among the clubs tracking the 22-year-old centre-back. However, the latest reports from Scotland suggest Stoke are now in pole position, with Dundee understood to have agreed a fee in the region of £2 million plus add-ons.
That would represent a club-record sale for Dundee, surpassing the £1.5 million fee received when Jack Hendry moved to Celtic. It also appears to bring an end to a transfer chase which has involved a number of clubs, including Portsmouth, Rangers, Derby County, Norwich City and the Imps.
The Courier reported that Graham left Dundee’s pre-season training camp in Hungary ahead of their friendly against Dorogi, having been given permission to return to the UK to finalise the details of a move. Dundee are said to have accepted offers from both Stoke and Portsmouth, but the Potters now look set to secure his signature.
Portsmouth had been long-term admirers of Graham and saw a number of bids rejected in January, including one which would have broken Dundee’s transfer record. Dens Park boss Steven Pressley was unwilling to lose a key defender midway through a relegation battle, with the club instead waiting until the summer in the hope of maximising his value.
That decision now appears to have paid off, with Stoke reportedly prepared to meet Dundee’s valuation. For Lincoln, it means another Championship rival looks set to land a player we were actively linked with, following Barney Stewart’s decision to move to West Brom.
Graham came through Dundee’s academy system and has also spent time on loan with Lochee United, Albion Rovers, Montrose and Falkirk. He established himself as a key figure at Dens Park last season and earned Scotland Under-21 recognition, further enhancing his reputation.
His development has made him an attractive target south of the border, particularly given his age, physical profile and experience in senior football. At 22, he fits the kind of recruitment model several clubs have been pursuing, with potential resale value as well as immediate first-team qualities.
Lincoln’s reported interest underlines the type of market the club are operating in following promotion to the Championship. Competition for players of Graham’s profile is fierce, and once fees rise towards the £2 million mark, the battle becomes difficult against established second-tier rivals.
Stoke now appear close to completing the deal, leaving Lincoln and the other interested clubs to move on to alternative defensive targets.
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