Lincoln expect Erhahon to generate club-record fee

Lincoln City expect Ethan Erhahon to fetch a club-record fee when he is sold in future, but the Imps are in no rush to agree a transfer, says director of football Jez George.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Imps from St Mirren in January 2023, was recently voted both the Players' Player and Fans' Player of the Season.

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala rates Erhahon as the best defensive midfielder in League One "by a mile" and has previously admitted they "will struggle to hold on to" the former Scotland Under-21 international this summer.

George said approaches from other clubs were expected.

"I don’t think clubs in the Championship will be doing their jobs properly if there wasn’t interest," George told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

When asked if Erhahon would likely become the most expensive player ever sold by the club, George said: "I'd be amazed if he isn't when it happens."

The largest sum Lincoln have generated from a player's transfer is about £640,000 for defender Harry Toffolo - a figure that included his initial move to Huddersfield in January 2020 and the sell-on fee for his later move to Nottingham Forest.

With Erhahon having more than two years remaining on his contract, George says the Imps are "very well protected" and are not "in a position where we have to sell".

"We hoped this would be the situation when we signed Ethan," George said.

"He has been exceptional."

But George does admit that bids will be listened to if "right for everybody".

"It's about career progression and the right club," George said.

"So if the right club comes in with the right financial package for Ethan that could be life changing, quadrupling his wages, and it is an absolutely huge number for Lincoln City - money we can (use to) overall try and strengthen in lots of different areas - then as a football club we have to look at that."