Millwall set to complete deal for Scunthorpe defender Murray Wallace

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall are set to make Murray Wallace their first signing of the close season – with a deal for the Scunthorpe United defender expected to be completed this week.

The Lions put in a bid which triggered a clause in the 25-year-old contract’s which allows him to leave the League One outfit.

Glasgow-born Wallace is back in the country following a summer break and the South Londoners are confident of wrapping up his services.

Millwall boss Neil Harris had made adding more depth to his centre-back options a priority.

Although Byron Webster is set to pen a new deal, the former Yeovil man has missed nearly all of last season following a serious knee injury suffered against Barnsley in early October.

The addition of Wallace will provide extra competition for Shaun Hutchinson and Jake Cooper, who were amongst the star performers for the Lions last season as they comfortably adjusted to life in the Championship.

Wallace is a former Scotland under-21 international, who started on Glasgow Rangers’ books. He has been a standout performer for Scunthorpe since signing from Huddersfield Town in January 2016.

He made 45 appearances in the regulation league season and Millwall boss Harris was in the stands to watch him in play-off action against Rotherham United at New York Stadium in early May.

Wallace is primarily a central defender but can also play at left-back – an area where the Lions lack cover for first choice James Meredith following Harry Toffolo’s release.

The Scot, who cut his playing teeth at Falkirk before signing for the Terriers in January 2012, is keen to boost his prospects of a full cap.

And the likes of Jordan Archer, Shaun Williams, George Saville, Aiden O’Brien, Mahlon Romeo and Meredith have all won international recognition as the Lions have progressed under Harris.

Norwich City are being linked with a move for Ben Marshall, who had been identified as a key signing for the Lions following his impressive loan spell in the second half of last season.

The Canaries looked on the verge of selling James Maddison to Leicester City in a £25million deal, hot on the heels of Cardiff City snapping up winger Josh Murphy for a fee in excess of £10m last week.