Lincoln City are closing in on a further addition to their forward line as they continue to strengthen ahead of Friday’s deadline.
The Imps have a strong forward line up boasting the likes of Ben House, Freddie Draper, Rob Street and Jovon Makama, but faced disappointment during pre-season as fan favourite Tyler Walker found himself once again on the sidelines for an extended period.
The club found themselves in a similar situation last season and opted to swoop for Luton Town’s Joe Taylor on loan, who had been at Colchester United. The addition of the player coinciding with new manager Michael Skubala prompted a meteoric run of form that almost resulted in a spot in the play offs.
There had been some calls for fans to once again move for Taylor, after his club found themselves relegated to the Championship. However, question marks remained over what would happen with him this season, with the Imps now seemingly moving on.
According to Joe Crann, the Lincolnshire based club are set to carry out a medical with 19-year-old forward Bailey Cadamarteri. He enjoyed a breakthrough season in the 23/24 campaign having taken the step up to the senior set up, but with his young age it is reportedly felt that he could benefit from a period away to gain more minutes.
What does this mean for Lincoln City’s Forward Line?
Lincoln have been favouring playing with two strikers this season with Ben House and academy graduate Jovon Makama taking the two spots in the opening few games. The former presents a more pressing style attacker and coupled with Taylor’s energetic runs last season resulted in Michael Skubala being able to carry out his style of play perfectly.
Cadamarteri is more in the Taylor mould, and will likely take the spot of Jovon Makama who has done superbly this season but perhaps needs more time to learn his craft. This does lead to questions over Freddie Draper’s immediate future. He is well thought of at Sincil Bank but with Street the clear back up for House and Makama being favoured in that second spot it would leave him as a fifth choice striking option, of even sixth if Walker recovers. It is likely therefore that the player heads out on loan this season to recapture the form he had at Walsall in the first half of last season.