Millwall boss Neil Harris on Premier League loan signings

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall could be in the market for Premier League loans this season – but manager Neil Harris is adamant he won’t make promises he can’t keep.

The Lions have taken the likes of Jake Cooper and Jed Wallace on temporary deals from Reading and Wolves respectively when they were a League One outfit.

Both men made permanent switches following promotion to the Championship.

Many Premier League clubs ask for guarantees that their young assets play – and it can even be reflected in the financial outlay. There were claims when Yaya Sanogo was on loan to Charlton from Arsenal that the percentage of his salary paid was higher if he did not feature.

Asked if a Premier League loan could happen for the Den outfit, Harris replied: “I don’t think it’s unlikely.

“But you always have to be respectful to the clubs you are going to loan players from. They are either ones they want off the wagebill and they aren’t fussed where they go or you’re bringing young players in that they have got high hopes for.

“That usually means they want to make sure they get game time while they are away.

“I won’t make promises to people I don’t feel I can keep. I don’t want to break the trust of a club and I think that’s why we have an excellent relationship at the moment – because we work honestly and respectfully.

“We tell people exactly how it is. If we are not for them then we are not for them.

“We won’t be held to ransom by a club saying that a player has got to play a certain amount of games in my team. He’ll only play in my team if he has earned the right to play.

“But I would 100 per cent consider doing it [loaning from the Premier League]. But we also have to be 100 per cent happy with the terms of a loan and that it will improve Millwall Football Club.”

IMAGE BY BRIAN TONKS