Bradford City edge ahead of Blackpool in race to sign departing Millwall player | OneFootball

Experienced defender is out of contract with Millwall but in demand elsewhere, with Bradford and Blackpool leading the chase for his signature.

Bradford City and Blackpool are leading the chase to sign Murray Wallace, who was released by Millwall at the end of the 2024/25 season, according to reports.

Bradford City were promoted to League One at the end of the 2024/25 season and are looking to strengthen their squad for the summer ahead at a higher level, and Murray is very firmly on their radar.

But Bradford may not be alone in their pursuit, because it's also been reported that there could be interest in him from another League One club in the form of Blackpool.

Bradford are 'showing more determination in the chase' for Wallace signature

Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that both Bradford and Blackpool have an interest in signing Wallace, who was released by Millwall at the end of the 2024/25 season after seven years with the club.

But Bradford could have an advantage in the chase for Wallace's signature. The defender played for Huddersfield Town earlier in his career, and Nixon reports that the player is "willing to return to the area". He also confirms that Bradford are "showing more determination in the chase" for his signature at this stage.

Wallace's years of EFL experience would bring benefits to any League One club

Bradford's move for Wallace is described as 'ambitious' because this is a player with years of experience at a higher level than League One.

He first signed for Huddersfield from Falkirk in 2012, but only made 60 appearances for them over four seasons before moving on to Scunthorpe United.

He's best-known for his time at Millwall, where he made over 200 appearances. He was their Player of the Season for the 2021-22 season - when the Lions finished ninth in the Championship, just six points from a play-off place - and signed a new contract at the end of that season, which expires at the end of June.

But by the 2024/25 season, it was clear that he had fallen down the pecking order at The Den, with Jake Cooper and Japhet Tanganga the preferred central defensive partnership for manager Alex Neil.

Having only turned 32 years of age at the start of the year, it was always unlikely that Wallace would want to stay anywhere that his appearances in the first team were going to become more sporadic. But this choice was rather taken out of his hands by Millwall's decision to release him at the end of the 2024/25 season.

His reported willingness to return to West Yorkshire speaks volumes for the reasoning behind why players make the decisions they do. Game time and wages are important in the decision-making process, but quality of life also matters, and if Wallace both knows and is comfortable living in a familiar part of the country, then Bradford could have a potentially decisive advantage over Blackpool in the chase for his signature.

His years of EFL experience would certainly be a welcome addition to any League One club, and Bradford's ambition may well match that of the player himself.