‘The crazy thing about the transfer window…’ – Millwall boss Alex Neil gives assessment on mid-season trading

Millwall head coach Alex Neil has given his verdict on the January transfer window and admits it is “crazy” how there is so much activity which happens late on.

The Lions did eight incoming deals during the period of trading including club record deals in – Camiel Neghli – and also out – Romain Esse.

On deadline day – which finished at 11pm on Monday – the Championship club added Rangers forward Zak Lovelace and Chelsea left-back Zak Sturge on loan.

Asked if he was pleased the window was now shut and whether the deadline should be different, Neil said: “The transfer window is the transfer window. As a club, you need an opportunity to refresh the squad, whether that be to bring players in or players might need to go out to play football  somewhere. It serves its purpose.

“The crazy thing about the transfer window is that everybody does their work with two or three days left to go. You have 30-odd days to do your work and everybody comes in during the last two to three days.

“I think we’re quite content and pleased with what we have done.”

Asked why clubs do wait until nearer the deadline to get active, the former Preston, Norwich and Stoke boss said: “It’s a variety of reasons.

“What you will find is that players who are not available at the start of the window become available at the end of the window.

“Naturally if you manage to sign a player then you create an extra asset in the team. A lot of the time where does he go? Does somebody have to leave to make space for that player to come in?

“There are all those questions at different clubs. How many transfer windows have you seen where clubs are doing nothing at the start of the window and, at the end, they sign three in one day. It’s just how it works.”