Crewe Alex: Midfielder O'Connor in demand

By mbaggaley crewe alexandra michael baggaley

LINCOLN City and an unnamed Championship club are hoping to sign Crewe midfielder Michael O'Connor.

The player's agent has revealed clubs are circling for the 21-year-old Northern Ireland international, who had a fall-out with Alex boss Gudjon Thordarson last season.

Lincoln are understood to be one of the clubs interested after O'Connor had a successful two-month loan at Sincil Bank last season.

But they could be blown out of the water if the Championship club follow up their interest. The Alex could also be reluctant to sell another leading player to a League Two rival, having already let striker Tom Pope move to Rotherham for £150,000.

O'Connor has another year on his contract, but rivals are set to test Thordarson's determination to keep him – with Lincoln believed to be contemplating a season-long loan or a bid as low as £50,000.

Gerry Carlile, O'Connor's agent, says the player is concentrating on impressing for Crewe after settling his differences with Thordarson at the end of last season.

He added: "As far as I am aware, there hasn't been a bid but, having said that, a lot of these things happen through July.

"Michael is not actively looking to get away, but there will be a certain level of interest.

"He is 21 and has played nearly 100 senior games. He's nearly 6ft 1in and is a box-to-box midfielder. These sort of players aren't everywhere.

"A lot of clubs are looking for players with that balance of youth and experience – and Michael has that. There has been interest from a Championship club, although I am not going to name them."

O'Connor has played 89 games, scoring three goals, for Crewe since graduating through their youth system.

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