Lincoln City have been named among the clubs interested in Andrei Coubiș, with the Romania international potentially set to leave Universitatea Cluj only weeks after completing a permanent transfer.
The centre-back has attracted attention following an impressive spell in the Romanian top flight, although Trabzonspor appear to have made the strongest move so far. The Turkish club have reportedly offered €3 million, around £2.6 million, while an unnamed Championship side is also said to be in negotiations. Lincoln were later identified as that club through reports on social media, but their interest has not been confirmed.
Coubiș has not featured in Cluj’s most recent fixtures, strengthening speculation that discussions over his future are progressing. Any sale close to the reported figure would represent a remarkable return for a player who has changed clubs several times during the past year.
The defender was still part of AC Milan’s set-up at the beginning of last season before moving to Sampdoria. That transfer was eventually made permanent for a reported €150,000, despite Coubiș not making a senior appearance for the club.
His route to regular first-team football instead came through Universitatea Cluj, who initially brought him in on loan during January. He quickly became an important part of their defence, making 19 appearances across all competitions, scoring twice and helping them reach the Romanian Cup final.
Cluj subsequently secured him permanently for approximately €150,000. A transfer worth €3 million would therefore provide the Romanian club with a significant profit after only a short period of ownership.
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Coubiș developed through AC Milan’s academy and later captained Milan Futuro in Serie C, making 34 appearances during the 2024/25 campaign. Although he never played competitively for Milan’s senior side, he was included in their Champions League squad and appeared on the bench against Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb.
His performances since moving to Romania have also pushed him into the senior international picture. The 22-year-old made his Romania debut against Slovakia in March and has now earned three caps after previously representing the country across several youth levels.
Lincoln At A Disadvantage
Lincoln have reportedly missed out on Ivory Coast attacker Oumar Diakite; he turned down a move to England this weekend, or at least that is what reports suggest. He’s aiming for top-flight football in Belgium, and that’s a danger in this hunt, should the Imps’ interest be solid.
Trabzonspor can offer Coubiș European football after finishing third in the Süper Lig, while a move to England would place him in one of Europe’s most competitive second divisions. Would that be enough?
No formal approach from Lincoln has yet been reported, but Cluj’s selection decisions and the level of interest surrounding the defender suggest his future could be resolved soon.