Millwall are set to reinforce their forward output according to reports in Serbia with a deal for 19-year-old Mihailo Ivanovic.
Neil Harris’ side have had a turbulent start to their season, compounded by the loss of star man Tom Bradshaw to injury in their EFL Cup defeat to Leyton Orient last night. The Lions boss spoke after the defeat to confirm that his number nine is facing a spell off the pitch.
Bradshaw was subbed on at The Den as Millwall sought – and failed – to find their first shot on target of the match, but the Welsh international sat on the sidelines in the dying minutes after receiving treatment. Harris said (Quotes via South London Press): “It’s a bad one – it’s his hamstring. It’s going to be a bad one.
“He’ll have to be scanned but you don’t come off like he did and get an overnight fix. I don’t want to put a timescale on it but we’re not going to see him for a period of time.
“We’ve talked a lot about needing to recruit at the top end of the pitch. I think tonight we see that very clearly with opportunities to impress for players who have knocked on my door asking to play – and the clamour from the fanbase, at times, to see them play.
“I don’t think there will be many people knocking on my door on Friday afternoon. We needed a number nine anyway. We certainly need a number nine…maybe two.”
The London side were already in search of a new striker ahead of the transfer window deadline in a few days, and have lined up Serbian striker Mihailo Ivanovic as their new choice. The Vojvodina striker has been linked with a move to Millwall, with Serbian media suggesting that the Championship side will be paying a club-record fee of €3 million (£2.5 million).
Daily Mirror and South London Press journalist Daniel Marsh has confirmed the interest, which would make Ivanovic the second striker through the door this window after buying Macaulay Langstaff from Notts County. The League Two top scorer has failed to impress at Millwall, with his only starts coming in the EFL Cup.
The same can be said of Irish youngster Aidomo Emakhu, who played only 652 minutes in the league last season and has only appeared from the bench in the second division so far this season. The 20-year-old has made a total of 27 appearances since joining from Shamrock Rovers in January 2023.
The Lions are currently 22nd in the Championship with a solitary point on the board, earned in their 0-0 draw away to Hull City. They face Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, before facing Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers.
Writer’s View
Losing Tom Bradshaw is a massive blow to Millwall going forward. He seemed like the only striker Neil Harris has trusted so far with Langstaff and Emakhu relegated to Cup starters. Ultimately he now has to put some faith into his other options going forward as his leading man is now resigned to the injury list for the foreseeable future. Mihailo Ivanovic was likely going to be behind Bradshaw in the pecking order but with him out, should he move to London he could have a shot at a starting place.
It is a big risk to spend so much money on a nineteen-year-old with only one proper season under his belt. Last season the Vojvodina striker played in 38 Super Liga games and scored nine times, signing a new deal that will take him to 2027 at the Serbian club. Compatriots such as Huddersfield Town‘s Bojan Radulovic have struggled to kick on upon moving to England, so this is a very dicey move to make for a club-record fee.
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