With preparations well underway for their return to the second tier after over six decades away, Lincoln City’s summer recruitment plans will be fascinating.
It’s not so long ago that the Imps were feeding on scraps, players not wanted by clubs who had historically been below the club in the football pyramid.
Michael Skubala now leads the club into a division where the top earner during the 2025/26 season, Leicester City’s Harry Winks, was paid £90,000 a week and was relegated.
With the summer now upon us, could the Imps scour the loan market to add quality to their squad? The following five players are potential temporary signings for the club’s hierarchy to take a look at.
Louie Barry – Aston Villa
Barry has had several loans away from his parent club, most notably a successful 2024/25 stint with Stockport County, contributing 18 goal involvements in just 23 League One outings.
The 22-year-old has tasted the Championship with Sheffield United and Hull City, admittedly with less success than his League One spells, although his time with the Tigers was ended early through injury.
At his age and with his League One experience, Barry’s name has been known for some time, even spending a period with Barcelona before arriving at Villa Park. His career needs to be reignited, and his next step is to crack the Championship. With Lincoln’s ever-growing reputation in the game, Aston Villa could well see their man complementing the likes of Jack Moylan as the Imps continue to prove the doubters wrong.
Amario Cozier-Duberry – Brighton & Hove Albion
Cozier-Duberry is another on loan in League One from the Premier League, appearing 34 times for Bolton Wanderers. The Brighton loanee has delivered 20 goal involvements from those appearances, helping his temporary side to a playoff spot.
Like Barry, Cozier-Duberry has Championship experience, having represented Blackburn Rovers during the 2024/25 campaign. The wingers’ next move must be to succeed in the second tier as a final loan before pushing themselves into the reckoning at the American Express Stadium.
The 20-year-old has been one of the leading attackers in the division this season, creating a high number of chances, being successful with over 60 dribbles, and winning back possession high up the pitch.
These traits surely make him appealing to Michael Skubala and the Lincoln City recruitment team as they look to construct a team capable of taking the Championship by storm.
John Gauci – Aston Villa
Goalkeeper Guaci has just completed his loan spell with relegated Port Vale, performing well personally despite Vale’s struggles.
The Australian kept 11 clean sheets in 34 outings, placing him 10th on the League One list of shutouts. Gauci made no errors that led to a goal and made close to 50 high claims, demonstrating his reliability and command of his area.
With George Wickens, the undisputed number one at the LNER Stadium, any loan move would see Gauci take his place on the bench as a backup to League One’s joint golden glove winner, allowing for Zach Jeacock and Jamie Partington to gain valuable experience on loan.
Kieran Morrison – Liverpool U21
Left field perhaps for this Northern Irish winger, but he has been in exhilarating form for Liverpool’s second string, scoring 14 times and assisting four goals from 19 starts.
The 19-year-old has yet to spend time away from Anfield on loan but has tasted some first-team action with the English champions. He debuted in the Carabao Cup in the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace before adding to that in the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup five months later.
Morrison has been exposed to the first team environment at Liverpool and with Northern Ireland in recent weeks, sitting on the bench for his club’s loss to Manchester United and his country’s draw with Wales.
Lincoln City have an excellent and growing reputation within football and has been entrusted with talented youngsters from the likes of Premier League giants Manchester City in the past. Liverpool is likely to view any loan move to Lincolnshire as a valuable and exciting learning opportunity for the young winger.
Alfie Lloyd – Queens Park Rangers
Lloyd spent the second half of Lincoln City’s record-breaking season on loan at the LNER Stadium from Queens Park Rangers, making mostly fleeting appearances but endearing himself to supporters with his energetic style.
The 23-year-old scored once during his spell, adding the third goal in the 3-1 home win over Stockport County in March. In all, he participated in 19 matches for Lincoln, although he only started twice, and contributed one goal and one assist.
Lloyd is a willing runner who could be used to stretch teams and get the Imps up the pitch. Should they find themselves under pressure against the higher calibre of opposition they will come up against in the Championship, they will come up against in the Championship.
The forward’s last appearance for his parent club came back in April last year, and they have a plethora of attacking options that could open the door for Alfie Lloyd to head back to Lincolnshire for the Imps’ Championship challenge