Gary Rowett responds to Zian Flemming’s comments that he would be open to Millwall transfer

Gary Rowett has revealed that Millwall are long-term admirers of Fortuna Sittard attacking midfielder Zian Flemming.

The Lions have had a bid turned down for the 23-year-old.

Flemming played the full 90 minutes for Fortuna as they lost 2-1 at home to AZ Alkmaar on Sunday. The result leaves them one place off the bottom of the Eredivisie standings.

Amsterdam-born Flemming has scored 17 goals and got 10 assists in 49 matches for Fortuna.

He has already indicated over the weekend that he is keen on linking up with Millwall.

“The Championship is a great step for me,” he told ESPN. “It was the same with Nottingham Forest last summer. Then I honestly indicated that I wanted to go there.”

Asked about Flemming, Lions boss Rowett told the South London Press: “When another club and another player speak quite openly about it, which is quite often the case in the European market, then look – he is a player that we’ve liked and a player we have tried to sign on numerous occasions.

“We put a bid in and at the moment that has turned down by Sittard, which is there prerogative – I get that.

“That is really as far as it has gone.

“I heard the comments about the player being keen to move to England but again that is down to his parent club. He has got a contract. I respect that situation and I respect the opposition manager, which is Fortuna’s manager, in any situation like this.”