Lewis Montsma is set for a deadline day transfer away from Lincoln City to the Scottish Premiership with Dundee.
The Dutchman will link up with his former Imps teammate Ethan Hamilton at Dens Park, who has recently taken captain responsibilities for the Scottish outfit.
City’s longest-serving player will bring his five-and-a-half-year stay in Lincolnshire to a close, with Pete O’Rourke reporting that the defender is in advanced talks with Dundee.
A medical is scheduled for Monday, after Montsma was absent from the Imps squad in yesterday’s victory at Wigan Athletic.
It will bring a sorry end to his Lincoln career, after so much promise in his opening season at Sincil Bank. Signed from FC Dordrecht in the summer of 2020, Montsma was a formidable presence at the heart of City’s defence in his debut year. He scored some spectacular goals, ending the season with eight goals in 49 appearances.
After making a strong start to the 21/22 campaign, an ACL injury suffered at the start of 2022 ruled him out for a prolonged period for the second time in his career. The 27-year-old returned 13 months later, but only played eight times before rupturing his ACL, requiring surgery. As a result, he missed the entire 23/24 campaign, but signed a new short-term deal ahead of the new campaign.
Understandably, his minutes were limited for much of last season as the club managed his gametime. Nevertheless, Montsma still managed 21 appearances for City, and he enjoyed a strong performance against Chelsea in the League Cup 3rd Round last September. But that was one of just four matches he has played this term, and none of those have come in the third tier.
It felt like a move away was inevitable this month, and that looks to be a permanent one to Dundee. The Courier are reporting it will be a short-term contract, as Lewis looks to revive his career following his injury nightmares.
Imps Strong In Defence
There have been times over the past decade when our squad depth has been questioned. Even as recently as 17th January, City named two goalkeepers and Gbolahan Okewoye on the bench at Luton Town. That was as a result of loan players being recalled, replacements not yet signed and injuries.
Ben House and Tom Bayliss are now back in the fold, with both making cameo appearances in the last two matches. Adam Jackson isn’t too far away from returning, while Oscar Thorn is back on the grass. Josh Honohan is a little further away from making his first appearance in an Imps shirt.
So, from a defensive standpoint, City have Sonny Bradley and Tom Hamer as our first-choice centre-halves at the moment. Adam Reach and Tendayi Darikwa have also made their respective positions their own, on either side of defence. Ryley Towler gives the Imps an option to move to a back five, which has been utilised on many occasions mid-game this term.
Deji Elerewe has yet to feature in the matchday squad, but he should be a commanding presence, judging by his reviews at Bromley. Fellow winter signing Honohan is injured at the moment, but he will provide some stern competition on the left side of defence. Jackson will find it incredibly difficult to regain his spot when fit, and may even be fighting for a spot on the bench.
Dom Jefferies’ versatility is used in an attacking sense, but he has played at right back a handful of times during his career. Likewise, Erik Ring, who has hardly featured this season and was left out of the matchday squad yesterday, could be deployed as a full-back if required. Finally, Charlie Parks, Oisin Gallagher and MJ Kamson-Kamara are all out on loan, but all three players are defenders.
The whole point of this is to show how secure Lincoln are in defence. Montsma will be missed as a person, but the Imps will be more than capable without him for the final few months of the League One season.