Millwall will be pleased with their summer window activity, having added in areas of weakness and retained star assets. However, Liverpool’s deal for Ismaïla Sarr may raise concerns around The Den.

Millwall nearly missed out on immediate promotion last season, finishing one point behind second-placed Ipswich Town and losing the play-off semi-final 2-0 to Hull City, relegating the Lions to another year in the second tier.

Scottish head coach Alex Neil will be eager to rectify the wrongs from the previous season, and with two wins in their first two Championship games, things couldn’t have started much better.

In addition to signing Tairyk Arconte, Jenson Metcalfe, Mathis Servais, Mark Sykes, Elkan Baggott, Danny Batth, Lyndon Dykes, and Jordi Osei-Tutu this summer, the Lions have successfully retained Mihailo Ivanovic, Tristan Crama, and Femi Azeez.

Liverpool’s acquisition of Crystal Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr may negatively impact the Lions.

Liverpool prepare Ismaïla Sarr raid as Crystal Palace could want Millwall’s Femi Azeez as a substitute

According to Fabrizio Romano via X, Liverpool is in talks with Palace over a prospective trade for Senegalese forward Sarr, with the Italian transfer guru also adding that the Reds’ £50 million approach was rejected by the Eagles.

Sarr, 28, is one of Palace’s most significant players, playing a key role in the club’s historic Europa Conference League victory last season, but he has recently missed training to try to force a move away from the club, with Galatasaray also interested.

This will be a significant loss for Palace, who will struggle to replicate Sarr’s productivity if he leaves; if he does leave, the Eagles may look into signing Millwall’s Femi Azeez as a replacement.

Azeez, 25, shone for the Lions in the Championship last season, scoring 11 goals and assisting eight times in 35 league games, proving to be a constant threat on the right flank when cutting in with his preferred left foot, and with at least three Premier League clubs previously interested, Palace may be tempted to join the race.

Femi Azeez had previously garnered Premier League attention from Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, and Ipswich Town.

Palace’s pursuit of Azeez will be difficult, as Premier League clubs Brighton and Hove Albion, Hull City, and Ipswich Town have all previously expressed interest in the Nigerian international.

Ipswich had bids for the former Reading winger turned down by Millwall as recently as January, which would have been a record sale for the Lions, as Hull were said to be interested, while Brighton have touted Azeez as a potential successor to Amario Cozier-Duberry if he leaves the Seagulls.

Millwall have done well to keep Azeez’s services up to this point, and at this late stage in the window, the promotion hopes will have little intention of selling their star player this summer, though Palace could coax them into a deal with the right offer.

Lucas Ball, a Millwall fan commentator for Football League World, has previously asked an eight-figure compensation to part ways with Azeez, as the Lions’ asking price remains uncertain.

Crystal Palace could want Millwall’s Femi Azeez if Ismaïla Sarr joins Liverpool.

Palace is undergoing a new era under Pierre Sage, following the resignation of Oliver Glasner. Despite losing Maxence Lacroix and Brennan Johnson this summer, there is still a possibility that Daniel Muñoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta may leave before the deadline, joining Sarr.

Over the years, the Eagles have established a practice of signing some of the top talent in the Championship, with players such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Adam Wharton coming from the second tier and succeeding at Selhurst Park and beyond.

Azeez fits neatly into this category, and while he is best off the right flank, he is more than capable of working in a more central position if necessary, and would easily slip into one of Palace’s top ten spots.

Femi Azeez Millwall Championship statistics 2025/26 (Source: FotMob)

Appearances

35

Goals

11

Expected goals:

8.35

Assists

7 chances produced, 67 successful dribbles.

47. Defensive contributions

101

The Eagles previously signed Romain Esse from Millwall in January 2025 for a potential £14.5 million, and while that trade hasn’t gone as planned, there are few grounds to anticipate that Azeez would experience similar difficulties.

The 25-year-old has grown immensely since joining Millwall and is now more than capable of make the step up to the Premier League.

While Azeez is not a direct replacement for Sarr, he would provide a fresh aspect to the Eagles’ assault, and considering Palace’s transfer history, it would be surprising to see the South London club persuaded to bring the Nigerian across the capital to Selhurst Park before the deadline.

Alex Neil will have few intentions to split ways with Femi Azeez this summer.

Neil will be sure that Azeez, who joined the club two years ago for about £1 million, will remain a Millwall player beyond the deadline, having previously fended off interest from Ipswich and Hull.

While Premier League clubs are expected to revisit a bid for the 25-year-old before the end of the window, luring him away will most likely require a large amount at this point.

It remains to be seen whether any top-flight clubs, including Palace, would be willing to satisfy Millwall’s expectations, as the Lions will be ready to accept any bids that come their way in the remaining phases of the summer.