Lincoln to adopt 'aggressive' transfer policy to keep pace with Portsmouth, Hull, Charlton, Doncaster Rovers and other promotion rivals

The boss of Pompey promotion rivals Lincoln, Michael Appleton, has admitted he’s keen to go ‘aggressive’ in the remaining days of the transfer window.
Michael Appleton brings his Lincoln side to Fratton Park on Tuesday night.  Picture: Pete Norton/Getty ImagesMichael Appleton brings his Lincoln side to Fratton Park on Tuesday night.  Picture: Pete Norton/Getty Images
Michael Appleton brings his Lincoln side to Fratton Park on Tuesday night. Picture: Pete Norton/Getty Images

And he believes he has to, with his main competitors in League One also determined to flex their muscles with quality new additions this month.

Lincoln maintained their place in the automatic promotion places – second behind Hull on goal difference – with a 2-1 win against Northampton on Saturday.

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They also stretched their advantage over the Blues to four points, following Pompey’s 4-0 reverse at the hands of the league leaders.

Meanwhile, the Imps maintained their three-point advantage over Peterborough – 1-0 winners at Ipswich – who leapfrogged Kenny Jackett’s side in the table.

Despite a three-point advantage over the chasing pack, it’s proving a tight promotion race approaching the halfway stage of the season.

Appleton also believes there’s plenty of competition on the transfer front, with Pompey boasting their squad yesterday with the double arrivals of Charlie Daniels (free) and George Byers, who has joined on loan from Swansea.

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The Lincoln manager admitted he’s unlikely to add to his squad before Tuesday’s night’s trip to Fratton Park, with the loan arrival of Manchester City’s Morgan Rogers his only new addition this month.

However, he expects that to change in the final days of the window in order to keep pace with what his rivals are doing or have lined up.

Appleton told Lincolnshire Live: ‘It’ll be the back end of next week if we do something.

‘I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple in but I don’t see it before Tuesday’s game.

‘We think we’re making progress but you never know.

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‘We’re trying to be positive, we’re trying to be aggressive.

‘The reality is, anyone in the top eight, top 10 are going to be aggressive and see it as an opportunity.

‘I’d very surprised if we don’t do the same. The board have been very supportive is terms of trying to get the players we want.’

The arrival of Daniels and Byers takes new additions at Fratton Park this month to three, following Harvey White’s loan switch at the start of last week.

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Hull have brought in Gavin Whyte, Jordan Flores and Danny Crowley.

Peterborough are yet to make a move, but Doncaster have added loanees Elliot Simoes and Ellery Balcombe after losing Ben Whiteman to Preston.

Charlton have been busy, bringing in Ronnie Schwartz, Liam Millar and Jayden Stockley.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are looking to add to Carl Winchester’s arrival from Forest Green between now and February 1.

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