Millwall missed out on promotion to the Premier League after losing in the play-off semi-finals to eventual Wembley winners Hull City, and the Lions will battle to maintain their best players this summer.

Millwall had a genuinely fantastic season, finishing third, one point behind Ipswich Town in second.

The Lions and Tractor Boys were in a tightly contested battle for the second automatic berth after Coventry City won the title, but after Kieran McKenna’s side defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-0 on the last day, Portman Road would host Premier League football the following season.

Alex Neil’s team entered the play-offs full of confidence, but a 2-0 defeat to Hull in the second leg at The Den condemned the Bermondsey-based club to another year in the second division, where they will hope to improve next time around.

To guarantee they are in the best possible position to do so, Neil must make the required upgrades while preserving their star assets, as their commitment to keep their star winger will be challenged during the summer.

Millwall have reportedly rejected a new approach of roughly £20 million for Femi Azeez. Millwall missed out on promotion to the Premier League after losing in the play-off semi-finals to eventual Wembley victors Hull City, and the Lions now face a battle to maintain its best players this summer.

Millwall had a genuinely fantastic season, finishing third, one point behind Ipswich Town in second.

The Lions and Tractor Boys were in a tightly contested battle for the second automatic berth after Coventry City won the title, but after Kieran McKenna’s side defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-0 on the last day, Portman Road would host Premier League football the following season.

Alex Neil’s team entered the play-offs full of confidence, but a 2-0 defeat to Hull in the second leg at The Den condemned the Bermondsey-based club to another year in the second division, where they will hope to improve next time around.

To guarantee they are in the best possible position to do so, Neil must make the required upgrades while preserving their star assets, as their commitment to keep their star winger will be challenged during the summer.

Millwall have reportedly rejected a second bid worth approximately £20 million for Femi Azeez.

Millwall has had a few standout players this season, with French defender Tristan Crama performing at both centre-back and right-back during the season, and Jake Cooper continuing to be a brick wall in the Lions’ defence.

Few shone brighter than Nigerian winger Femi Azeez, who, according to FootballInsider, was the subject of a new approach from Ipswich for roughly £20 million, which was later rejected.

Azeez, 24, recently switched allegiance from England to Nigeria, and scored twice on his debut for the Super Eagles in a 2-0 win against Zimbabwe, following a standout season with Millwall, when he scored 11 goals and assisted eight in 35 Championship games.

Ipswich had already tested Millwall’s resolve late in the January window with a deal that would have seen Azeez become their record sale, but the Lions turned down the offer.

Alan Nixon previously reported that the Tractor Boys were hoping to bring the Nigerian international to Suffolk for between £15 and £20 million, but after their most recent bid was turned down, FootballInsider suggests that the Lions are looking for closer to £30 million for their star player.

Stuart Robson of the East Anglian Daily Times had indicated that a deal for Azeez was not in the works as recently as last week, but Ipswich’s tune appears to have changed since then.

Millwall are firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to demanding a fee for Azeez, and if Ipswich do want to bring him to Suffolk this summer, they will have to pay up to £30 million.

Whether McKenna’s side will be willing to accept those requests, at this stage, remains to be seen, as this tale might well rumble on over the coming weeks and months, and surely one to watch.

Alex Neil must remain firm as Ipswich Town and Kieran McKenna continue to press.

Few people will be disappointed to see Azeez leave Millwall this summer than manager Neil.

The Scot was able to hang his hat on the winger for much of the season, counting on Azeez to deliver a moment of brilliance when they needed it the most, which he frequently did.

Millwall will regard Azeez as irreplaceable, and with no incentive to rush to sell him, the Lions must maintain their stance on the winger and wait to see if Ipswich match their valuation of the 24-year-old.

Ipswich’s long-term interest in the winger is expected to continue throughout the summer, with the newly promoted club’s ability to sign the Millwall star uncertain.