Millwall boss on latest state of play with transfers with window officially opening tomorrow

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has talked about the wait for incoming transfer activity at The Den.

The Lions are yet to make a signing.

The Championship side had some major changes in May with Steve Gallen coming in as director of football with Alex Aldridge, director of football operations and recruitment, and chief executive Steve Kavanagh both relieved of their duties.

Our paper has reported that Millwall are keen on a permanent deal for Japhet Tanganga, who is being released by Tottenham this summer.

Ryan Longman, who finished his loan from Hull City strongly, is another potential option.

It is the first transfer window for Harris since he replaced Joe Edwards in February and revitalised the fortunes of the Lions on the pitch, powering them away from relegation danger.

Harris has spoken previously of the recruitment process being a “collaborative unit” since his return to SE16.

The Lions’ all-time goalscorer produced some highly-shrewd moves in his first spell as boss – with the likes of Jake Cooper, Ryan Leonard, Jed Wallace and Shaun Hutchinson just some of the successes.

The EFL transfer window officially opens tomorrow.

Asked about the transfer state of play for Millwall now, Harris told the South London Press: “When our first-team player – that we perceive as hopefully improving our group walks through the door – I genuinely don’t know at the moment. I think I’m in a position, like a lot of other first-team coaches and managers, where you get to a stage where you want players coming into the building – because we’re back training at the end of June, you want to start bonding groups and getting messages across sooner rather than later.

“The guys are working extremely hard behind the scenes with huge support from Jimmy (Berylson, owner) to try and get the first one or two over the line.

“There are a lot of conversations and a lot of hard work gone into the recruitment process over a period of time. Steve Gallen has not been in the building for a huge amount of time and has picked up the mantle very quickly. He is working extremely hard – all across Great Britain and Europe – to try and get some bits done.

“At the moment it is very difficult because a lot of people are on holiday still and the Championship has certainly changed over the last three to five years, where a lot less players are out of contract each summer – that means a delay in doing business. No-one seems to want to rush in the top two divisions to get business done quickly, any more.

“We can only move at the same speed as the rest of the market.

“There is always a balance between gung-ho and making sure you try and get your number one target, it has to be at the right value for the football club.

“I’m party to a lot of conversations. I’m extremely pleased with the work going on behind the scenes, we just need one or two things to fall for us now – things to pick up in the market – and I’m sure we’ll have one or two players in as quickly as I’d like to get them.”