Lincoln City target Erik Ring has revealed fresh details about his proposed move to England following his side’s recent big game.
The AIK winger was an unused sub as his side beat Djurgårdens 2-0 in the Stockholm derby over the weekend. After the game, the focus was very much on his potential transfer; speculation has been rising that the 22-year-old is eager to find first-team football despite the offer of a new deal at AIK.
Reports suggest he has been offered a new contract, or would be offered one if he wished to stay, but he is now firmly mulling over a move to the LNER Stadium, confirming officially for the first time that it is Michael Skubala’s side that are pursuing him.
“It was a nice city. Very good conditions with a nice training facility, good grass and several pitches,” the winger said when quizzed about his visit to England by Fotbollskanalen.
“I love being in AIK. I love the club. It’s nice that there is interest from Lincoln. It’s a good team and a better league than many people think. There are a lot of good teams in that series. But, as Thomas (Berntsen, AIk sporting director) said, it’s up to me. We’ll see how it turns out.”
He was pushed further and asked by the reporter which way he was leaning over a move.
“We’ll see,” he said. “Playing time is very important. It was the same when I was on loan last time, I got to play a lot and grew a lot as a player and a person. I’m in very important years now where I really want to play games.”
Ring burst onto the scene as a teenager with AIK, but as opportunities became scarce, he joined second-tier side Helsingborgs on loan, playing regularly for them last season. He broke into his country’s Under 21 setup, but has become a fringe player at AIK once again, which has led him to consider his options.
Lincoln City have identified him as a target to play on the left, a position that is proving problematic for them. The current left wing-back is Dylan Duffy, who has a gambling charge hanging over his head. He is only understudy for Reeco Hackett, a player who is on his second lengthy stint out of the side since signing from Portsmouth in 2023.
Writer’s View
It seems very much as if a decision will be made this week, and it is unusual to see a player making such an open statement about his future to the media. It all appears very relaxed at the Strawberry Arena, with no animosity around a possible move.
The lack of first-team chances is sure to bite hard, and with big names like Birmingham City in League One, Lincoln must be an attractive prospect. There are a few little caveats, one being that Ring isn’t primarily a wing-back, but as a Lincoln player, a 3-5-2, that’s the position they’re sure to want him to play.
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