Neil Harris and Millwall will be relieved to enter this summer with their Championship status secured. The 2023/24 season proved challenging for Millwall fans as the team struggled at the lower end of the league, fighting to stay in the second tier.
The club experienced a managerial turnover, going through three different managers throughout the season. Neil Harris’s appointment proved crucial in steering the club away from relegation.
With Harris likely to continue in the managerial role next season, it appears that Millwall is already making moves in the transfer market. Japhet Tanganga, who was on loan from Tottenham Hotspur from January onwards, is rumored to be returning to The Den once again as Harris’s potential first signing of the summer.
Millwall agree Japhet Tanganga deal
Millwall secured the loan signing of Japhet Tanganga from Tottenham Hotspur during the January transfer window. This marked Tanganga’s second loan spell away from Spurs, with his previous stint being at German club FC Augsburg earlier in the season.
Having been part of Tottenham’s setup since 2009 and making his first-team breakthrough in the 2019/20 season, Tanganga struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. This became more apparent when new manager Ange Postecoglou decided to send him out on loan.
Although Tanganga’s time in Germany wasn’t successful, his loan spell at Millwall proved fruitful. He featured in 18 Championship matches, scoring two goals. Now, Millwall seems poised to bring him back for the upcoming season, reportedly having reached an agreement with Tottenham for his permanent transfer.
According to The Mirror, Millwall is set to sign the 25-year-old defender permanently. Tanganga’s contract with Spurs expires this summer, although the club has the option to extend it until 2025. However, the report suggests that Tanganga is likely to depart from Tottenham this summer.
While this news is positive for Neil Harris, Millwall, and their supporters, it might not sit well with fellow defender Alex Mitchell, who may have been anticipating an opportunity in the first team.
Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga deal could be bad news for Alex Mitchell
Millwall may have been unsure about their chances of securing the permanent signature of Japhet Tanganga when his loan deal ended.
But it looks as though the club has been able to agree a deal with all parties that will see him return to The Den.
This will be good news for the club, as the 25-year-old was very impressive in his six months at Millwall, playing a big part in their survival.
So, Harris is obviously keen to have the player back and be part of his first-team plans for next season and beyond, which only improves Millwall’s defence.
However, as one player potentially arrives, it could spell bad news for another Millwall defender, and in this case, it could be Alex Mitchell.
Mitchell has been with Millwall from a very young age, with the centre-back coming through the club’s different age groups.
As the 2023/24 season ends, Mitchell has only played once for the Lions, and that was a 10-minute cameo in the EFL Cup in the 2021/22 season.
However, the defender has endured several loans at other clubs, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity presented to him by impressing. Mitchell has had time at Bromley, Leyton Orient, St. Johnstone, and most recently Lincoln City.
| Alex Mitchell’s 2023/24 League One stats for Lincoln City | |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 36 |
| Minutes per game | 82 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots per game | 0.4 |
| Touches | 48.3 |
| Big chances created | 3 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.7 |
| Tackles per game | 1.5 |
| Clearances per game | 5.0 |
| Clean sheets | 12 |
| Stats as per Sofascore.com | |
The 22-year-old had a standout season with Lincoln City, marking his most impressive campaign yet. He featured in 36 games during the League One season, starting 34 of them and maintaining an average of 82 minutes per game on the field. His performances were noteworthy enough to earn recognition from Sofascore.com.
While with Lincoln City, Mitchell scored one goal and, although he didn’t register an assist, he did create three significant scoring opportunities throughout the season. However, his defensive capabilities were particularly impressive, catching the eye of Millwall. Mitchell averaged 0.7 interceptions, a solid 1.5 tackles, and successfully regained possession three times on average per match. These statistics contributed to his role in Lincoln City’s defense, which kept 12 clean sheets while he was playing, according to Sofascore.com.
So, it was an impressive loan for Mitchell, and he will be returning to The Den a better player for the experience, and he will be hoping it has done enough for him to be part of the first team picture next season.
Harris will likely be eyeing several changes to his squad this summer, as he will want to avoid a repeat of this season’s relegation troubles. Therefore, Mitchell has probably put himself in strong contention to be part of the first team next season.
Reports indicate that the Lions and Spurs have reached an agreement concerning Japhet Tanganga. However, Tanganga’s potential arrival may hinder his chances of becoming a regular player, as he might remain at the club next season but might not get as much playing time if Tanganga is also there.
While Millwall will likely welcome the addition of the Spurs defender, there might be concerns if Mitchell doesn’t get the playing time he desires. Mitchell is a promising defender who could significantly contribute to Millwall’s defense.
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