Millwall must pull Morgan Gibbs-White trick in response to Wolves and Everton £15m transfer talk - opinion

Millwall are set to see their transfer resolve tested by Premier League outfit Wolves this summer with the Midlands club said to be serious admirers of striker Mihailo Ivanovic.

The 20-year-old has also been linked with Everton in recent weeks after a breakthrough campaign at The Den. Ivanovic only joined Millwall from Vojvodina for £2.8 million last year but the way he has taken to the Championship at such a young age has turned heads.

The striker bagged 12 goals last season with Serie A side Parma also said to be interested. Now, TEAMtalk’s Darren Witcoop claims that Wolves have officially enquired over a move for Ivanovic to add strength in depth following the departure of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.

Wolves enquire over Millwall striker

Millwall are said to be determined to keep Ivanovic but could reportedly sanction a £15 million sale with that profit too much to turn down. However, if the Lions really mean business next year, they should make it clear that no fee would tempt them to sell.

Alex Neil’s side only just missed out on the play-off places last season and already look strong contenders for the top six next term. Josh Coburn has been signed on a permanent deal in a real coup with Luton Town man Alfie Doughty set to also come through the door in a head-turning coup.

Millwall should make it clear to rivals that they mean business. Allowing their most promising player to leave after just 12 months is not a way of doing that.

The Championship side should perhaps take inspiration from Nottingham Forest. The Premier League club saw star man Morgan Gibbs-White heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur but stuck their heels in the ground so well that a new deal was agreed and those transfer rumours killed.

While there were plenty jokes online about the 25-year-old being held at gunpoint by owner Evangelos Marinakis, it was a clear sign that Nottingham Forest do not intend to be messed with.

Ivanovic already signed a long-term contract last year but refreshing that deal to reflect his value to the club may not be a bad move. Millwall could also look to build in a lucrative release clause.

Even if £15 million is offered for Ivanovic, the bagsman will be worth more than that should he help fire Millwall to promotion. There’s no doubt that the Lions stand a better chance of slingshotting into the Premier League with the Serbian leading the line, and promotion would bring in at least £200 million.

Ivanovic ‘remarkable’ in first Millwall season

Speaking about Ivanovic after he bagged a brace against Norwich City earlier this year, Neil said: “He’s just grown as a player. His link-ups have become better, his leading the line has become better, his understanding of when to press and how press is becoming better.

“His movement in the box is a massive thing that I’ve been onto him since I walked in the building that he needed to improve on. As you can see with the chances he’s now getting, that’s improved hugely.

“We need to bear in mind, this kid is 20, he’s come from a foreign country, it’s his first season at this level and he’s got twelve goals, which is a remarkable sort of achievement for him personally. I think we’ve got to pay credit to both strikers. I thought Josh Coburn was very good for us as well and they balanced off each other really, really well.”

There’s no doubt that Ivanovic will keep on getting better, and exponentially so. It’s a no brainer for Millwall to end all transfer speculation, just as Nottingham Forest did with Gibbs-White. Best case, Ivanovic helps fire the team to promotion and, worst case, he can be sold for even more than £15 million after another impressive campaign at The Den.

In other news, Predicted Championship table and where Millwall, QPR and Charlton rank after Benda, Kelman and Kamara transfers.