‘The players who can make a difference are not quick deals’ – Millwall boss Rowett on summer transfer window
Gary Rowett has revealed he always expected Millwall’s transfer business to take a while to start moving.
The Lions narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs last season, their hopes only finally being dashed on the final day.
Millwall appointed Alex Aldridge as their director of football operations and recruitment in March. He had been head of recruitment there before joining Stoke City in August 2020.
“Myself and Alex have been working incredibly hard to get some deals done and lined up,” Lions boss Rowett told the South London Press. “We have got offers in for players that we are permanently interested in and players on loan.
“We’ve met plenty of players over the summer, both on Zoom and face to face. What you’ll see now hopefully is some of those deals coming to fruition.
“The players you want and can make the difference are usually later [in the window] than the ones you can do straight away. Once again we could’ve signed a whole new team in the week after the season but it wouldn’t be the players I think can get us to where we want to be.
“Most players will now start, with a week to 10 days until pre-season, start pestering their agents about what is happening – get me the right club.
“We’ve got some really good targets – young, athletic, attacking players – that we want to get into the building. You have to be patient. But at the same time I respect the fact that people want things done yesterday and to announce five signings. If you look at the market in general, not many clubs have signed many players.
“I think it will probably go a little bit crazy at the start of next week.”
Millwall’s friendly programme is set to start with a short trip to Kent to face Dartford on July 12 (7.45pm).
Tickets cost £10 for adults, £5 concessions and £2 for juniors.
The Lions have also confirmed they will host League One Ipswich Town on July 23 (3pm) in what is set to be a final tune-up before the Championship campaign starts the following weekend.
Millwall’s players report back for fitness testing on June 22 and they then head off for a training camp at Fota Island, in Ireland.
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