Lincoln City told Swansea City transfer unlikely this January - "I can't see it" happening | OneFootball

FLW's Lincoln City fan pundit has given his verdict on links to a January move for Bobby Wales

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 have been linked with a potential loan move for Swansea City youngster Bobby Wales ahead of the January transfer window.

It has been reported by Graeme Bailey that the League One side are among the clubs interested in the forward.

The 20-year-old made the switch to the Swans earlier this year from Kilmarnock, but has struggled for game time under Alan Sheehan.

The forward has made just one league appearance from their opening 12 fixtures in the Championship so far.

This could open the door for a loan move when the market opens in the new year, with a view to him receiving more consistent minutes.

Bobby Wales to Lincoln City is unlikely

When asked about potentially signing Wales in January, FLW’s Lincoln fan pundit Gary Hutchinson claimed that there are enough attacking options in the squad as it is, so a move seems unlikely.

He believes that a winger would be a better addition to their squad in January, but that Wales doesn’t fit what they need at the moment.

“I’m not putting too much weight behind the rumours that Bobby Wales is coming to Lincoln City, or that we’re interested in him,” Hutchinson told Football League World.

“In terms of centre-forwards, we’ve got Ben House — just signed a new deal — James Collins to the end of the season at least, so they’re not going anywhere.

“Rob Street we turned down a big bid down for in August, so we’re looking like we’re trying to keep him.

“Freddie Draper is a regular, it’s four centre-forwards.

“If Wales was more of a winger, maybe so, but I can’t see it.

“I don’t really think we need a new striker, if you look at the goals our strikers have scored I think they’ve shared 17 between them, including Justin Obikwu who is on loan as well, and he’s on a season-long loan.

“I can’t see there being any need.”

Hutchinson has claimed that the only way Lincoln are likely to sign Wales is if a big offer arrives in the winter for one of their existing squad members: “When I read the story my first thought was we’re just being linked with him because we were before.

“I think, with Barnsley, Lincoln were first linked with him when he first left Kilmarnock.

“It’s not something I think is particularly likely to happen at this stage, unless there was a really big bid for one of our strikers.”

Lincoln have made a promising start to the League One season, with the Imps sitting inside the play-off places after 13 games.

Michael Skubala’s side are sixth in the table, just four points adrift of leaders Stockport County and with a fixture in hand.

The third tier side have scored 18 times from 13 fixtures, the second least of any side inside the top 10 in the standings.

Next up for Lincoln is a trip to face Bradford City on Tuesday evening in a 7.45pm kick-off at Valley Parade.

Bobby Wales move wouldn’t make much sense for Lincoln right now

As noted, Lincoln have plenty of attacking options, so there would be no use sending him there on loan in order to get regular game time.

If he is not in Sheehan’s immediate plans at Swansea, then he needs to be going somewhere that will offer him a route to consistent minutes in the side.

Taking a step down to League One would make a lot of sense, as he’s yet to show he’s ready to compete in the Championship.

Wales is still only 20, and he showed plenty of promise at Kilmarnock, but it is evident that he is not quite ready to be an important part of the Swans’ first team plans.