Millwall are in contention for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season under Alex Neil.

Following last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town, the Lions are only two points behind second-place Middlesbrough heading into the March international break.

Josh Coburn’s second-half equaliser kept the London club level with the Tractor Boys in third place, despite Kieran McKenna’s side having a game in hand.

Neil’s team has only seven games left to secure their first top-flight comeback since their 1990 relegation, as they pursue their first Premier League participation.

However, the play-offs provide a route out of the Championship, with the team six points ahead of seventh-place Wrexham.

Millwall will already be looking ahead to the forthcoming transfer window, and they may be planning for what the summer will be like if they make it into the Premier League.

Millwall warns of busy summer business.

When asked how the present squad would do in the Premier League, FLW’s Millwall fan analyst Lucas Ball stated that a lot of work would be required in the summer because just a few players could thrive in the top division.

He believes that any promoted side must now invest in their squad in order to survive, but he is optimistic that Femi Azeez, Alfie Doughty, and Tristan Crama will all make the step up to the top flight, especially with Azeez garnering interest from Premier League sides.

“I think any club now pretty much needs to do some work on their squad,” Ball told Football League World.

“You can clearly be smart in your recruitment and attempt to tap into other sectors, but it may be unproven, which is obviously a risk in and of itself.

“There are a few players that you believe would do well in the top flight.

“Obviously, Alfie Doughty has been up there before with Luton, and I believe Tristan Crama and Femi Azeez will be able to adapt to the level — obviously, a number of Premier League clubs are looking at him.”

“Beyond that, we’ve got some youngsters, some younger players who are still developing and growing, so there’s no reason why they might not be able to adjust eventually, but it might take them some time to adapt.”

Millwall must take a risky transfer decision.

Ball feels Millwall may accept relegation as a strong probability and not invest as much in the team, but that this strategy is just as risky as spending heavily like Sunderland did last summer, with the Black Cats now poised to stay in the top tier.

“I think most clubs that go up now from the Championship, you’ve seen the clubs this year that didn’t do so much business, particularly Burnley, didn’t do probably as much as Sunderland and Leeds and Sunderland were obviously a way off those two last season,” according to him.

“So, you could say that they needed to do more.

“But Burnley is firmly anchored in the relegation zone and does not appear to be on the verge of escape.

“Most clubs now, in order to have a chance, will have to try and spend; the question is whether you want to bet on that or accept being a yo-yo club for a couple of years and accepting that you’ll drop down and attempt to bounce back up.

“But obviously, that’s still a dangerous plan; you’re not going to back yourself for relegation, so maybe don’t spend as much, accept that the chances are you’ll be relegated, unless you do some very good work.

“And then hope to bounce straight back up, but the Championship is so competitive now, especially if there are more changes coming to parachute payments and everything that goes with them, that you may not have the same benefits that clubs in the last few years have had when coming back down.

“The squad as it is will require some work, but that work will take place this summer regardless if, as always at this stage of the season, if you’re in the position we’re in, two lists of transfer targets will be compiled for the summer.

“One of those will be if we’re still in the Championship, and one of those will be if we’re in the Premier League for next season, so we just have to wait and see what happens.”

Millwall are fourth in the Championship with only seven games remaining, but they are still aiming for automatic promotion.

While the distance to seventh-place Wrexham is far from safe, with the Red Dragons only six points back, Neil’s side will keep an eye on Middlesbrough in second when the league resumes after the March international break.

In fact, the Lions will travel to the Riverside on April 3 to face Boro at 12.30pm, with a win moving the club into second position.

A busy summer awaits Millwall.

Regardless of whether Millwall win promotion or not, their strong record is set to make for a busy summer at the Den.

Azeez is garnering Premier League attention and might be sold if the club remains in the Championship, while other players such as Crama and Doughty could also be in line for large transfers.

If Millwall is successful in securing promotion, a lot of additions will be required if the Lions are to remain in the division for more than a year.

The pressure will be on for the final seven games, particularly against Boro, but supporters can look forward to a thrilling finale to the season.