Lincoln City finally moved to solve their striker problem, with Barnet forward John Akinde joining in a club-record deal.

Although the actual fee is undisclosed, it is thought to be higher than the £75,000 they paid Bury for Tony Battersby in 2001, making Akinde their most expensive ever purchase.

It didn't seem to bother the big striker one bit as he gave his first press interview, he shrugged off the notion it might bring pressure and reiterated that he signed for Lincoln because he wants to win promotion.

Until last season, John Akinde brought goals, scoring 20 or more in successive seasons.

Last season he started with an injury and by the time he was fit, Barnet were struggling.

He did save one special strike for Imps fans though, giving Barnet the lead against them at the Hive. Now, they'll be seeing his talents reap rewards for them.

The signing brings the Imps in line with Mansfield and Notts County who have both made big-money signings this summer, leaving the three rivals in a battle at the top of the League Two table for promotion.

Only a foolish man wouldn't back all three for a top seven finish, especially with Tyler Walker, Kane Hemmings and now John Akinde fighting their corners.

Lincoln now have four forward players on their books, Matt Rhead, Matt Green, Bruno Andrade and John Akinde. Between them, those four have scored a whopping 124 goals over thee last two seasons (Akinde 7, 26, Andrade 26, 12, Green 17, 13 and Rhead 15, 8).

It wasn't until Akinde arrived that Imps' fans felt there might be real substance to a possible top three finish.

Two trophies in two seasons has whetted their appetitive for success, but only an automatic promotion tilt could possibly be described as progress this season, with the bar having been raised with every second Danny and brother Nicky Cowley have been in charge.

For all the promotions, Wembley wins and positive strides, this summer was always going to be judged on the pair's ability to attract a top-quality striker, one whose arrival signals a statement of intent and makes the rest of the division sit up and take note. In John Akinde, they've made that move.

Now, only a top-three finish would be deemed as a success and rightly so, because Lincoln have perhaps made the biggest permanent signing of the summer in League Two.

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