Lincoln City have been linked with a move for Romania international defender Andrei Coubiș, although they appear to face significant competition for his signature.
Reports emerging from Romania and Turkey have suggested the Imps are interested in the 22-year-old centre-back, who currently plays for Universitatea Cluj in the Romanian top flight. Turkish side Trabzonspor are also reportedly pursuing Coubiș and are claimed to have submitted an offer worth €3 million, approximately £2.6 million.
One report stated that an unnamed Championship club had joined the race for the defender, with a deal almost done for a club record fee for Cluj. On Twitter, the Imps were subsequently suggested as the interested English side. There has been no confirmation from City at this stage, and it remains unclear whether the reported interest has developed into a formal bid.
Coubiș was absent from Universitatea Cluj’s recent matches, which has added to speculation that the Romanian club may be prepared to sanction a transfer. He only completed a permanent move to Cluj this summer, having spent the second half of last season on loan there from Sampdoria.
What is odd is his trajectory: he started last season at AC Milan, moved on loan to Sampdoria, then moved permanently for a reported €150,000. He didn’t appear for them at all, joined Cluj on loan in January and signed permanently at the end of last season for the same fee.
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Born in Milan to Romanian parents, Coubiș joined AC Milan’s academy in 2019 and went on to captain both their under-19 side and reserve team. He was included on the bench for Champions League matches against Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb in 2022, although he did not make a competitive first-team appearance for the Italian giants.
The defender made 34 Serie C appearances for Milan Futuro during the 2024/25 season and was later handed the captaincy. He joined Sampdoria on loan in August 2025, with that move becoming permanent in January, but he did not make a senior appearance before immediately moving to Universitatea Cluj.
Coubiș quickly established himself in Romania, making 19 appearances in all competitions during the second half of last season and scoring twice. His performances also helped Cluj reach the Romanian Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Universitatea Craiova.
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His progress earned him senior international recognition, with Coubiș making his Romania debut against Slovakia in March. He has since collected three senior caps, having previously represented the country at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Coubiș has predominantly played on the left of a central defensive partnership, despite being naturally right-footed. His numbers from last season suggest he is particularly comfortable in possession, averaging almost 53 passes per 90 minutes with an accuracy rate just below 90%.
He also completed 66.1% of his long passes and won 58.3% of his overall duels, including 54.1% of his aerial contests. Coubiș averaged almost five interceptions and more than seven recoveries per 90 minutes, pointing towards a defender capable of stepping forward to regain possession as well as contributing to his team’s build-up play.
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Trabzonspor would be stiff competition for the Imps, should their reported €3 million offer prove accurate. They finished third in Turkey last season and can offer Europa League football, as well as regularly competing towards the upper end of the Süper Lig. However, a move to England would provide Coubiș with an opportunity to establish himself in the Championship, arguably a better stepping stone to the big leagues.
The Imps’ recruitment team have already indicated that they are prepared to target players capable of improving the starting XI for significant fees as we prepare for life in the second tier. Coubiș’s age, international experience and potential resale value would all appear to fit that approach, but for now, this remains an overseas report rather than a confirmed move from the Imps.