Lincoln City made "absolutely huge" transfer decision amid £1m offer from League One rival | OneFootball

FLW's Imps fan pundit has reflected on the aftermath of the transfer window

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Lincoln City rejected a deadline day bid in excess of £1 million for forward Rob Street, opting to keep the 23-year-old at Sincil Bank for the foreseeable future.

The former Crystal Palace forward, who impressed on loan at Doncaster Rovers last season, is now firmly part of Michael Skubala’s plans with the Imps.

And their move to turn down the seven-figure offer - as reported by Pete O'Rourke - has been interpreted as a statement of intent from a club no longer forced to cash in on emerging talent.

That determination comes against the backdrop of a strong start to the League One campaign. Lincoln sit 7th in the table after eight matches, with four wins, three draws and a single defeat leaving them outside the playoff places on goal difference.

Building on last season’s 11th-place finish, Skubala’s side appear to be maturing into genuine contenders, helped by a recruitment policy that is both long term in vision and bold in execution.

Holding on to Street, a player still only 23 and tied to a four-year deal, fits squarely within that strategy.

Turning down £1 million Rob Street bid shows how far Lincoln City have come]

Following the transfer window’s conclusion, Football League World asked resident Imps expert Gary Hutchinson, of The Stacey West website, if it was right to turn down such a fee for Street.

“I think the question of whether it was right or wrong is only one that can be answered in the future when we see how Rob does” Hutchinson told FLW.

“I think the point that's worth making here is that Lincoln City here are in a position to turn down that amount of money. He was prolific, we signed him on a four-year deal - so we obviously have a lot of hope and belief in what he can achieve.

“So the fact that a club came in with that fee, and we were able to turn it down, is absolutely huge for the club.

It shows how far we've come and I think that that is probably the main takeaway.

“My gut feeling, was it right or was it wrong? I think it was brave. I'll sit on the fence and dodge the question.

“I think it shows a trust in our own recruitment strategy and I just think that Lincoln City fans can take it as a positive.

“The question is, would we have turned it down had we not got £1.2 million or however much it was for Jovon Makama? Maybe not.”

Lincoln City are showing patience in Rob Street following Doncaster Rovers, League Two exploits

Street’s time at Doncaster showcased his potential, but translating those League Two goals into consistent League One returns remains his next challenge.

So far this season he has featured seven times, starting six, clocking up 497 minutes without registering a goal or assist. On paper that may look underwhelming, yet his contribution has not been negligible.

Street’s work rate and ability to win duels have provided reassurance that he can adapt to the demands of the higher division, even if the end product is still to come.

For the Imps, the decision to reject seven figures represents faith in their recruitment and a signal that they are building towards long-term stability. The fact that a player signed for £30,000 from Cheltenham Town is now commanding such offers speaks volumes.

Every player has a price, but for now, Street is worth more to Lincoln on the pitch than he is in the bank.