Lincoln City issue revealed over Bolton transfer pursuit - "I'm not 100% convinced" | OneFootball

FLW's Lincoln City fan pundit can't see John McAtee being a viable transfer target this summer

Lincoln City were narrowly beaten in their first Championship game since the early 1960s, as a late Will Lankshear effort secured all three points for Middlesbrough.

That being said, there was a lot to like about the Imps' performance at the Riverside against one of the pre-season title favourites, and there'll be plenty of optimism ahead of the rest of the campaign under Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.

Marquee £4.3 million signing Mikkel Ladefoged isn't expected to join up with Lincoln until later this month, too, but there are questions surrounding whether the towering six-foot-seven frontman will be the only striker through the door at Sincil Bank for the rest of this summer.

According to the Daily Mail, Lincoln are one of four EFL clubs interested in Bolton Wanderers forward John McAtee, who started and assisted in the Trotters' 2-1 win over Preston North End on opening day.

Lincoln City reaction issued to John McAtee links

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McAtee struggled for games last season at Bolton, due mainly to the quality of depth they had at the top end of the pitch. A slow transfer window this summer meant that the former Barnsley man was afforded a rare start on Saturday, and he took that chance.

It's expected that the performance against Preston will increase interest in McAtee, but FLW's Lincoln fan pundit, Gary Hutchinson, doesn't think that the 27-year-old is someone that the Imps would viably look at in the coming weeks before the window closes.

"I'm not 100% convinced that we'd be in for John McAtee,"Gary told FLW. "I know the kind of profile we are looking for and what we need is quite clear.

"Tyrese Shade, I can understand those links. Mikkel Ladefoged, I can understand those. But McAtee, I'm not 100% sure I can see that developing, if I'm honest.

"I don't see us paying a big sum of money for a player north of 26 from a Championship rival when the money he'd be on is likely more than what we'd be paying. The key is, and we are paying some transfer fees, so I'd buy that, but the key here really is wages."

Lincoln City wage structure explained as John McAtee transfer barrier emerges

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Looking at Lincoln's business so far, the only players they've paid fees for are under the age of 23 and come from foreign top-flight leagues. The signings that have been made from fellow English sides have been loans or frees, and are for players who won't command large wages.

Hutchinson knows that McAtee doesn't really fit the bill for what the Imps are looking for in the transfer market this summer, believing that the 27-year-old will already be on more per week than the majority of Lincoln's players.

"We have a wage structure that we operate in; it's why Jack Moylan went to Cardiff — their wage structure outstrips ours," Hutchinson explained.

"We may have sold him for £3 million and are spending a similar fee to bring Ladefoged in, but the wages will be significantly different.

"The complication of signing a player from a Championship rival is that they'll be on decent wages. McAtee will likely be on around £9,000 - £10,000 per week, with promotion bonuses now, too, and we won't pay that.

"I don't see this happening. I don't see it being a transfer that Lincoln fans should keep an eye on."

Lincoln City may dodge a bullet if they avoid John McAtee transfer

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McAtee put in a good performance on Saturday against Preston, but it must be stressed that the game at the Toughsheet Stadium at the weekend was the 27-year-old's debut in the Championship.

The Bolton forward has been a decent operator at League One level for a few years, at Barnsley and at his current club during the 2024/25 campaign, but it could be seen as a big risk to spend a fee to bring him to Sincil Bank this summer.

Lincoln's signings thus far have either filled squad roles, like backup goalkeeper Joe Gauci or veteran left-back Callum Elder, or come in as relative unknowns at this level with a high ceiling to improve, such as Ladefoged, Andre Coubis or Tottenham loanee Mason Melia.

As for McAtee, his room for growth isn't as high as the aforementioned trio, with him nearing his traditional prime years, having not played Championship football until last weekend.

The 27-year-old could turn out to be at the level required to be a solid second-tier option, but he'd be too much of a risk for Lincoln to spend a decent bit of money on both a transfer fee and wages to try and find out themselves.