Ireland striker watch: Barry-Murphy eyes Moylan, Lincoln keen on Melia

Former Shelbourne forward Jack Moylan was an integral part of their promotion charge by scoring 11 league goals and providing seven assists. 

Lincoln City's Jack Moylan (right) celebrates. Pic: Jacob King/PA Wire.

As Brian Barry-Murphy tries to lure Jack Moylan to Cardiff City, the Irish striker’s employers are believed to be teeing up compatriot Mason Melia to replace him at Lincoln City.

Both teams were promoted to the Championship, Lincoln as League One champions, but the Welsh club’s financial clout is reflected in them tabling an offer for Moylan that the Imps are giving serious consideration to.

The former Shelbourne forward was an integral part of their promotion charge by scoring 11 league goals and providing seven assists. 

He crowned his campaign by concluding it with a hat-trick on his senior Ireland debut against Grenada in May, only to be harshly sent off on his second appearance against Qatar.

"I know the player really well," Barry-Murphy said on Saturday, when asked about Moylan after their 4-1 pre-season victory over Roma.

"He had an amazing season at an amazing club and they were better than us last year. I congratulated them on what they achieved but he's not our player."

Lincoln are actively engaged in contingency planning for replacement firepower, with Melia understood to be among their targets.

The 18-year-old striker has made a couple of debuts over the summer, firstly for Ireland against Qatar before his new Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi blooded him in last week’s pre-season friendly against Sydney FC in Australia.

Melia moved to Spurs from St Patrick’s Athletic in January in a €1.9m deal. At the time of brokering, in early in 2025, it smashed the record for a League of Ireland player and has since been broken by the €2m package from Arsenal for Victor Ozhianvuna of Shamrock Rovers.

De Zerbi wants to continue the Dubliner’s development by sending him out on loan for the season and a raft of Championship clubs have lodged their interest.

A decision on his destination is likely to be made over the coming week.