Ivan Varfolomeev

Varfolomeev sits in front of the back four and does the unglamorous work of stopping opposition attacks before they develop, reading passing lanes rather than looking to dribble past opponents himself. Lincoln paid a fee that broke their previous transfer record to sign him, a clear signal of how highly they rated a young midfielder still adjusting to English football from further east. He adapted quickly enough to be voted the club's own young player of the year inside his first year.

The obvious question with any record signing is whether he can do at a higher level what he did before arriving, protecting a back four against opponents who are faster and sharper on the ball. Defensive midfield work that looks routine against weaker sides gets exposed quickly against better ones. Lincoln are trusting his rapid adaptation so far is evidence he can make that next step too.