Football League World
·21 December 2024
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·21 December 2024
FLW take a look at three players in particular who Millwall may fear facing Premier League bids for in January.
A positive first half of the 2024-25 season has seen Millwall upset some of the Championship’s most fancied sides so far this season.
The Lions defeated high-flyers Leeds United and Burnley back-to-back at The Den in early November, both without conceding a single goal. Now though, there will be uncertainty once again in South London.
Millwall’s run of six league games without a win has seen them slip into mid table after a promising start had them chasing a play-off spot. Boss Neil Harris has also left, having stepped down from his role following the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough at the weekend.
There are several players within the Millwall squad who are particularly valuable assets, but we’re taking a look at three in particular who the Lions should fear multi-million pound bids coming in for over January.
For all of Millwall’s structure and solidity, Esse is undoubtedly the jewel in their crown. He’s the gamechanger, the man capable of producing moments of magic for the Lions.
The 19-year-old winger is enjoying something of a breakout season in 2024/25,a nd despite his tender age, Esse has been a key figure in Millwall’s success this season, with outgoing boss Harris describing him as a “brilliant, undoubted talent that’s going to go and play in the Premier League soon".
Esse is electric with the ball at his feet, and he's also progressing at international too, scoring in England’s Men’s Elite side in their 4-0 win over Germany back in November and has already gained international honours at Under 18, 19 and 20 level.
According to the London Evening Standard, Crystal Palace are in talks with Millwall to sign Esse and then immediately loan him back to the Lions for the remainder of the season.
Palace will be encouraged by the success of Ebere Eze since they plucked him from the Championship back in 2020, as well as their success with Michael Olise and subsequent sale to Bayern Munich, but Millwall can at least take some solace from the fact that their young star is thought to have a significant release clause within his contract (as per the London Evening Standard).
Nevertheless, the Premier League links seem unlikely to go quiet any time soon.
Tanganga has been nothing short of superb since making his loan move from Tottenham a permanent one over the summer.
The Lions are still yet to concede more than once in any game that Tanganga has featured in. He’s even got two league goals to his name, something which you really don’t expect from the 25-year-old defender.
His outstanding performances were recognised recently, when he was nominated for the Championship’s Player of The Month award for November.
Tanganga already has over 25 games of Premier League experience as well as a taste of all three major European competitions, highlighting the fact that he has already proven himself at the top level.
Given that he's already been exposed to Premier League football as a youngster and has now arguably become one of the second tier’s stand-out centre halves, don’t be at all surprised to see top-flight clubs sniffing around Millwall’s defensive rock in the January window.
De Norre only joined Millwall last summer, but a string of impressive performances could already spike interest in him from top-flight clubs.
The 27-year-old midfielder arrived from Belgian Pro League side OH Leuven and has ample experience at that level, having also represented KRC Genk and St.Truiden.
De Norre has already proven himself to be a very capable midfielder at Championship level, with his reading of the game and strength in the tackle particular stand-out areas within his game.