Five Players That Should Interest Lincoln City This Summer

May 3, 2024 Gary Lincoln City 0

Liam Bennett

Right Back / Right Wing Back

Cambridge United

Lasse Sorensen has been an outstanding performer for Michael Skubala’s side and has cemented himself as a fan-favourite with Imps fans. However, he is likely to attract interest from Championship outfits this summer. With Elicha Ahui earmarked for another development loan and Jay Benn having limited League One experience, albeit impressing on loan at Solihull Moors, The Imps may look to add in the right back / right wing-back position.

It goes without saying that we all hope Lasse stays at Sincil Bank but nobody would begrudge him a deserved move to the Championship should an acceptable offer be received. It is, therefore, sensible to look at contingency options, and we could do far worse than Cambridge United’s Liam Bennett.

Bennett was due to be out of contract this summer, but the U’s have triggered a one-year extension, meaning his deal now expires in June 2025. At the age of 22, an acquisition this summer would have required compensation even without the extension, so Cambridge have been sensible in protecting their asset for a further year. But, turning 23 prior to next summer, Bennett could then leave for nothing so the U’s may be receptive to an offer and choose to cash in now while the player still represents reasonable sale value.

The full back has been a key player for Cambridge this season having cemented his position on the U’s right-hand side in the second half of the previous campaign. He ranks as the second best right sided lateral defender on Wyscout’s index behind our very own Lasse Sorensen and displays similar characteristics.

The former St. Neots defender has appeared in every league match for The U’s this season, starting 41 times. Despite contesting the second-most defensive duels of any player in League One, he has only picked up three bookings and ranks 21st for interceptions, a metric dominated by centre-backs.

Offensively, he is equally as impressive, putting in the ninth most crosses in the league and completing the 21st most progressive runs (advancing the ball at least 15 meters), the second-highest out of all right-sided defenders. The dribbling statistics continue to stand out, attempting the 13th most 1v1 dribbles per match with the tenth best success rate in the league. For right sided defenders, he ranks in the top three for both metrics respectively.

It could be argued that with no goals and just two assists, there is room for development in Bennett’s final action. But with him providing 17 key passes, the U’s being the second-lowest scorers in the division and underperforming their expected goals for the season by nine, poor finishing rather than a lack of supply is the most likely explanation.

As Bennett would command a six-figure fee, it’s unlikely City will make a move unless a substantial offer for Sorensen is received. Should that happen, Bennett would be an almost like-for-like replacement with a reinvestment of the Sorensen fee with plenty of change left over for additions elsewhere in the squad.