Gary Rowett explains why Millwall’s transfer plans are on hold

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has been looking at signings for next season during lockdown – but with no dates set for the transfer window, his plans are on hold.

The Lions manager hopes players who would have cost before, might now come into the reckoning, because their buying power has not been hit by the pandemic.

Rowett has been working with head of recruitment Alex Aldridge to assess players and watch videos.

It is not clear yet if the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures will affect bringing in players from overseas.

He said: “We do not know when the window will open and how it will be affected by everything that has gone on.

“We have to plan probably for it to reopen around August 1 – and that it will stay open for a minimum of three months.

“We do not expect it to be too different.

“It will be challenging to predict how the market will change as a result of coronavirus and the hit clubs have taken – and how that will affect a player’s value.

“But we may need to assume players will have less value than before.

“It might bring people into play that we would not have been able to sign before.

“But we will do what we have always done: look at where we need to strengthen and how long we have to wait to see what is available.

“Alex and his team have done a lot of work on this. We have some really good databases and as things go on, our job will be to speak to agents and see where the market lies.

“No one has said we cannot look at Europe. We do not know if the work permit situation will change and whether EU players will be able to come over here – but we have to assume it will be like it has always been.

“We would get good value bringing in players from overseas – that has proven to be the case for all clubs over the years. But we will always want signings who know what the club is all about. They need to have a profile that they want to improve next season.”