Lincoln among clubs pursuing Burton Albion forward Tyrese Shade
Lincoln have been named among a group of clubs reportedly interested in signing Tyrese Shade from Burton Albion, as the striker enters the final 12 months of his current contract. The 26-year-old forward has attracted attention after back-to-back productive seasons and is said to be the subject of a roughly £2 million valuation.
According to reports, Championship and League One clubs are circling as the summer window progresses. Alongside Lincoln, Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth have been linked with making a move for Shade as teams look to reinforce attacking options before the transfer deadline on 1 September.
Shade earned his move to Burton after an impressive spell with Eastleigh. He scored 14 goals in the 2024–25 season for Eastleigh, which prompted Burton to sign him permanently. He then continued that form for Burton last season, recording 14 goals and providing two assists in 44 appearances in all competitions.
| Season | Club | Goals | Assists | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Eastleigh | 14 | — | — |
| Last season | Burton Albion | 14 | 2 | 44 |
What Shade would bring to Lincoln
Shade is a versatile forward who can operate across the front line but was most often used centrally at Burton. His goalscoring record in recent seasons — and his experience in the lower leagues — make him an attractive prospect for clubs looking for a ready-made attacking option.
- Proven goalscorer at non-league and League Two/League One level.
- Versatility to play across the forward line.
- Contract situation could make a move feasible before the window closes.
For Lincoln supporters, recruitment in the final weeks of the window is always watched closely. Any addition of an established forward would be scrutinised for how it fits with the manager's tactics, the club's budget and long-term plans.
Wider interest and Pompey’s context
Portsmouth’s reported interest comes amid a minor injury setback for their squad. Their head coach addressed the situation in a pre-match press conference, signalling the club is monitoring options but has not yet committed to moves.
‘There’s no change at the minute. ‘The consciousness (over the striker options) was last season we lost Wadds and had Colby taking the majority of the workload.'
The comments came as Portsmouth weigh up attacking reinforcements after an injury to Thomas Waddingham. That context helps explain why a number of clubs are assessing forwards like Shade as potential signings.
Shade’s background includes time with Swindon Town and involvement with Leicester City as a younger player. That mix of youth development pedigree and recent senior goals has boosted his profile among Championship and League One clubs.
Timing and implications
With the transfer window set to close on 1 September, the next few weeks are likely to determine whether Lincoln make a formal move. Any bid would need to be weighed against the club’s priorities — preserving financial stability while improving the squad — and against competition from other clubs reportedly prepared to spend to secure attacking reinforcements.
Supporters in Lincoln will be watching club announcements and credible reports closely. Should the club pursue Shade, it would reflect a concerted effort to add proven scoring threat to the squad ahead of the busy autumn fixture schedule.
For now, the story remains one of reported interest rather than confirmed movement. Further developments are expected as the transfer window progresses and clubs decide how aggressively to pursue targets.
