"No disrespect" - Lincoln City man urged to aim higher than Bolton Wanderers this summer | OneFootball

FLW's Lincoln City fan pundit has given his verdict on defender Sean Roughan's potential summer move to Bolton Wanderers.

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 could be vulnerable to losing defender Sean Roughan this summer with his contract set to expire.

Roughan joined the Lincoln academy in 2020, and after returning from a loan spell with Irish side Drogheda United in the second half of the 2021-22 season, he has established himself as a crucial part of the first-team at Sincil Bank.

The 22-year-old was named the Imps' Young Player of the Season last term after an impressive campaign in which Michael Skubala's men narrowly missed out on the play-offs, and while his side were unable to replicate that success this time around, the defender remained an integral part of the team, starting all 46 league games and scoring one goal and providing five assists in all competitions.

However, Lincoln may need to prepare for life without Roughan as he nears the end of his contract, and as FLW exclusively revealed, Bolton Wanderers are lining up a move for the former Republic of Ireland youth international this summer.

After the Trotters finished eighth in the table following a late-season collapse that saw them fail to win any of their last six games, manager Steven Schumacher has warned that a big rebuild could be ahead at the Toughsheet Community Stadium this summer, and it appears he has set his sights on Roughan.

Lincoln City claim made on Bolton Wanderers' Sean Roughan interest

When asked if he would be surprised to see Roughan join another League One club this summer, FLW's Lincoln City fan pundit Gary Hutchinson insisted that the defender could do better than a move to Bolton, and he claimed that he is ready to make the step up to the Championship immediately.

"With Sean Roughan, I think it's a little bit different," Gary told FLW.

"I'd be really surprised if he did move to another League One club, even a big League One club.

"Bolton are a much bigger club than Lincoln, and they would expect to be playing regularly in the Championship and competing at the top end of that, but they're not at the minute.

"Sean Roughan may be thinking the same as Paudie O'Connor that he wants to be playing in a team that is likely to push for promotion, but he's at an age where he's got to be playing regular football.

"If he makes the step up to the Championship now, there's every chance that he could make another step further in the coming seasons.

"Paudie O'Connor would have thought about Premier League football, but I don't think Sean Roughan possibly has, especially when you've got teams like Ipswich and Luton getting to the Premier League.

"I would be surprised if Sean Roughan moves to Bolton.

"I saw he was linked with Hearts, but I would be surprised if he moved there as well.

"No disrespect, Hearts are a bigger club than Lincoln, I get that, but Ethan Erhahon moved from St Mirren in Scottish Premiership to League One in order to get his leg up into the Championship.

"Sean Roughan is incredibly versatile, he can play left of a back three, as a left-sided centre-back in a two or as a left-back.

"That suits some of the more fluid tactics and fluid approaches in the Championship, for instance a team like Stoke, who play with a three across the back.

"I'd be really surprised if Sean Roughan moved to a fellow League One club, I think he has the potential to make the step up to the Championship.

"He didn't miss a minute for us, and for a player playing at cente-half, he didn't get five bookings in the first half of the season, he didn't make it to 10 and he didn't get injured.

"If you look at his underlying numbers, they are so strong, and he and his agent will know that, so Bolton will just be the first club in a long line.

"I would almost guarantee that Championship clubs will be in that line."

Bolton Wanderers could be set for Sean Roughan disappointment

Bolton conceded a staggering 70 goals last season, which is far too many for a side with promotion ambitions, so it is easy to see why Schumacher is keen to strengthen his defence this summer.

Roughan has proven himself to be a top-quality League One defender for Lincoln over the past few years, so he would be an excellent addition for the Trotters, and as one of the bigger clubs in the division, the Lancashire outfit may have a chance of landing his signature.

However, as Gary says, Roughan would likely be capable of performing at Championship level, and as he will be available on a free transfer this summer, he would represent a strong bargain signing for any second tier side, with virtually no risk attached to the deal.