Derby County and Stoke City Lead Interest in League One Captain

As Lincoln City captain Paudie O’Connor approaches the exit door at the LNER Stadium, sources exclusively told THE DECK that Derby County and Stoke City are the most recent teams to show interest in the defender.

The Irishman’s contract expires in the summer transfer window, and while Lincoln City has offered what has been called a “good offer,” it is more probable that he will spend his season elsewhere due to interest from the league above.

League One is showing interest; according to a previous report by Football League World, Huddersfield Town and Barnsley were among the third-tier teams interested. THE DECK is aware that most League One clubs will be interested in one of these clubs, but it is better to join a competitive League One team that is vying for promotion or a Championship team.

Stoke City and Derby County Show Interest

Although the transfer market hasn’t opened yet, Championship clubs have already begun to show interest in O’Connor. The first two teams to formally show interest are Derby County and Stoke, and more are anticipated to follow in the coming weeks.

Paudie is an intriguing candidate because his stats are among the best in the division and there is no transfer fee.

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An Unexpected But Significant Loss for Lincoln City

The Lincoln City board probably noticed how Paudie O’Connor came from Bradford City after his contract expired in 2022, as he was approaching the last year of his agreement. The Imps have tried to hold onto one of their best players, but they probably can’t match the other interested parties’ financial resources or immediate goals.

O’Connor has earned his spot as one of League One’s top defenders. The Irishman had the second-highest rating of any player (7.44), second only to Lloyd Jones of Charlton Athletic (7.56), according to the football analytics website WhoScored, which is frequently shared by the EFL League One official pages.

	Appearances	Goals	Assists	Rating
Lincoln City 2024/25	38	3	5	7.44
Lincoln City Total	141	8	10
Bradford City Total	129	8	3