What Alex Neil once said about ‘unbelievable’ Millwall talent explains Premier League interest
After narrowly missing out on the Championship play-offs, Alex Neil has to mastermind a summer transfer window that can propel Millwall into the top six next season.
Millwall finished eighth in the Championship table in 2024/25, and that was seen as solid progress under Alex Neil after their 13th-place finish in the season before.
But as Millwall aim to unearth the next Ademola Lookman, there is an emphasis on keeping the spine of their squad together, something that could prove difficult this summer.
Wolves showed interest in star defender Japhet Tanganga during the January transfer window, and now, it’s hot prospect Mihailo Ivanovic who is garnering attention.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Wolves want to sign Ivanovic after his impressive debut campaign, though the Wanderers would have to pay a large sum.
Alex Neil thinks Mihailo Ivanovic is one of the best prospects in Europe
Ivanovic was only captured from Vojvodina as a teenager last summer but his 12 Championship goals were almost enough to fire Millwall into the play-offs.
The Serbia under-21 international flexed his incredible strength, movement and finishing powers to become one of the division’s hottest prospects.
Remarkably, though, it isn’t just in the second tier where Neil believes the 20-year-old can leave his mark, as he believes Ivanovic is one of the ‘top 10 talents in Europe’.
Speaking after his brace against Portsmouth in April, the Millwall manager said via The National: “Any 20-year-old that leads the line in the Championship and can get nearly [10 goals], and he’ll get double figures before the end of the season.
“If you do that, that’s an unbelievable season and it won’t be surprising me if people start talking about him. I’ve already seen something the other day talking about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he’s one of them.
“He’s 20 years of age, there are very few strikers at that age that will lead the line at this level and also score goals, so he deserves all the plaudits he gets.”
Millwall will struggle to hold onto Ivanovic
Once a Premier League club rears their head, it’s normally difficult for the player in question to say no.
In January, for example, winger Romain Esse couldn’t resist the temptation from Crystal Palace, and he sealed a £14.5 million move from Millwall.
Now, the latest player to depart the Den could be Ivanovic. Certainly, if Neil’s above comments are anything to go by, the talented striker should be playing in Europe in future.
That suggests Millwall could find it hard to hold onto him, but considering he was their top scorer by a long way, keeping him beyond the summer could be the catalyst for their success.
