Premier League side Fulham have joined the race to sign Lincoln City’s highly rated teenager Zane Okoro, with the 17-year-old increasingly expected to depart Sincil Bank this summer.
Okoro, who has already attracted interest from Bournemouth, is now firmly on the radar of top-flight scouts as his contract talks remain unresolved.
Fulham Enter Chase for Rising Star Zane Okoro
Lincoln City’s academy production line continues to draw major attention, and the latest name to generate Premier League interest is teenage forward Zane Okoro. The Real EFL understands that Fulham are the latest club to register concrete interest in the 17-year-old, who was recently named among the players in ongoing talks over a new deal at the LNER Stadium.
Okoro, a pacey and technically gifted attacker, made his senior debut this season and spent part of the campaign training and playing in U21 matches with Bournemouth. That stint was publicly framed as a development opportunity, but it has clearly put him in the shop window for other top-tier clubs.
“Zane Okoro is at Bournemouth at the moment,” explained Lincoln City’s Director of Football Jez George during an interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire. “He’s got a little spell there, where he’s going to play some U21 fixtures. He’s one we’ve got to get a pathway for. They’ve got to be our project players, the boys who have come through our system.”
While Bournemouth’s interest remains, Fulham have now entered the frame as they look to strengthen their youth setup with homegrown talent. Sources have indicated to The Real EFL that Okoro is being closely monitored by Fulham’s academy recruitment team, who have made successful moves for promising teenagers in recent windows.
Despite not being a regular first-team player, Okoro’s potential has clearly not gone unnoticed. With the likes of Sean Roughan, Jovon Makama, and Freddie Draper already carving out EFL careers from Lincoln’s academy, his situation is being viewed with increasing urgency by Championship and Premier League sides alike.
Crucially, because Okoro is under 24, any move away from Lincoln City would require a compensation fee. That remains a small hurdle for clubs operating at the top level, and with Fulham’s track record of integrating youth alongside experienced heads, they appear well placed to offer a compelling development pathway.
Michael Skubala’s background in academy football and youth coaching at Leeds United has earned praise for his commitment to nurturing young talent, but it may not be enough to keep Okoro if a Premier League move becomes too enticing. The club is believed to be doing everything possible to retain the forward, but the momentum is shifting.
Writer’s View
Losing Zane Okoro would be a significant blow for Lincoln City—not just on the pitch, but as a symbolic loss of one of their most exciting prospects. Fulham’s interest confirms the teenager’s rising stock, and while a compensation fee would soften the blow, it can’t fully replace the long-term value of developing and selling a homegrown star on their own terms.
If he stays, Okoro could be a future cornerstone of Skubala’s side. If not, Lincoln’s academy reputation will only grow—but so will the frustration of seeing Premier League clubs swoop in before potential is fully realised.
