Lincoln City winger Hakeeb Adelakun is a target for local rivals Doncaster Rovers as they look to put their play-off disappointment behind them next season.
Rovers were defeated in their play-off semi-final on penalties and will be keen to launch a promotion charge next season, given their extraordinary run towards the top seven at the tail end of this campaign.
Adelakun will leave the Imps when his contract expires at the end of June, and Rovers have acted quickly. In their retained list, they’ve confirmed they’ve offered terms to the former West Ham trainee, who spent the second part of the season on loan at the Keepmoat.
It’s an unusual move by Grant McCann’s side, in that possible incoming transfers are not usually announced via a club’s retained list. However, as well as confirming that they’ve offered Harrison Biggins and Luke Molyneux a new deal, they’ve also shown their hand regarding Adelakun.
The winger was a revelation for McCann’s side after joining on loan in January. He had 16 goal involvements, nine goals and seven assists, but sadly missed a crucial penalty in their semi-final shootout against Crewe.
He had a torrid time at Lincoln City, falling out of favour with two managers, Michael Appleton and Mark Kennedy. This season, he was forced into action as a makeshift striker due to an injury crisis, scoring three goals, including a brace to beat Appleton’s Charlton at the LNER Stadium.
While that earned him respect from supporters, it wasn’t enough to earn him a new deal, and it now looks likely he could hook up with McCann once again when he leaves the Imps. The former Peterborough boss first loaned Adelakun when in charge at Hull City, another productive loan spell.
The 27-year-old sprang to prominence with Scunthorpe United after leaving the West Ham academy. A big move to Bristol City brought just a couple of appearances, with loan spells at Hull and Rotherham. Following his release from the Robins, he joined the Imps, starting well with goals against Bradford City in the League Cup and away at Cambridge United.
However, he fell out of favour after leaving the field of play whilst the game was going on against Carlisle in the EFL Trophy, resulting in a goal. He was later allowed to leave the club on loan but failed to impress at Gillingham before his renaissance this season.
Writer’s View
There’s a great player in Adelakun, but it feels like he has to be loved and appreciated. Grant McCann knows how to do that, perhaps a little better than Neil Harris did at Gillingham or the two Imps managers he failed to impress.
At the beginning of this season, it felt like his only option might be an ambitious National League side. While the Imps were playing their first pre-season game, he was in London watching a music event. He wasn’t given a squad number due to an expected move, but he showed a great attitude to bounce back.
That was rewarded with a move to Doncaster, where he was nothing short of sensational. Adelakun playing with a smile on his face is a joy to watch, and whilst moving to the Keepmoat might mean a hit in wages, and dropping down a level, the player would be wise to make the move. Rovers are undoubtedly a side that should be playing League One football, and a man of Adelakun’s talents can help them get there.
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