Championship side Millwall are set to sign Fulham goalkeeper Steven Benda on loan, according to Dan Marsh.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper is reportedly having his medical today ahead of his temporary move to South East London.
Millwall Looking to Build on Last Season
After narrowly missing out on the play-offs on the final day of last season, Alex Neil is going into his first full season in charge at the Den.
With the strength of clubs in the Championship this season, it’s crucial that Millwall also strengthen to build on their successful season, with the club bringing three players through the door with just over a month of the window left.
Goalkeeper Max Crocombe and former loanees Josh Coburn and Zak Sturge have completed moves back to the capital, with former Ipswich Town midfielder Massimo Luongo and keeper Benda reportedly set to take the total up to five. Also according to journalist Dan Marsh, the club are interested in a permanent deal for Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine, who could potentially make it six done deals ahead of their opening fixture away at Norwich City.
It was no secret that the Lions needed to add at least one more goalkeeper to the squad following the departure of Liam Roberts, but with both Crocombe and Benda added to the ranks, alongside number one Lukas Jensen, this may give manager Neil a selection headache.
Usual first-choice keeper Jensen will miss the opening months due to injury, so it’ll be interesting to see who is Millwall’s number one between the sticks next season.
Worries Over Steven Benda’s Lack of Game Time?
It’s no secret that the 26-year-old has not been given the amount of game time he would’ve wanted since moving to England from German side TSV 1860 München.
First moving to Welsh outfit Swansea City, in six years, Benda made just 31 appearances, experiencing loan spells at the likes of Swindon Town and Peterborough United. Despite his lack of game time, he was snapped up by Premier League outfit Fulham in 2023 and has since gone on to make just four appearances, with all games being in cup competitions.
Whilst he played more games whilst out on loan in the lower divisions of the EFL, in men’s professional first team football, he has made just over 70 appearances in all competitions, which could prove to be a worry to Millwall fans.
However, with the deal being a loan move, it’ll be low risk for potentially a temporary high reward, with the Lions needing a safe pair of hands whilst Jensen sits on the sidelines.
Writer’s View
This deal is certainly an interesting one, with many believing Crocombe was going to take up the role of playing number two for the majority of the season. Adding another keeper to the ranks, therefore, feels like a bit of a waste of budget, with the loanee probably having limited game time to prove his worth at the Den.
