Ipswich Town fail with record breaking Millwall transfer attempt as 7pm passes | OneFootball

Ipswich Town made a late move for Femi Azeez of Millwall but the Lions stood firm in pursuit of a play-off place.

Millwall have rejected a club-record bid for one of their key players on transfer deadline day, with promotion rivals Ipswich Town submitting the offer.

Ipswich Town were expected to challenge for promotion with the aid of parachute payments, albeit they are one of four teams with that financial boost available to them in the Championship and the only one currently competing well.

Southampton are 14th, Leicester City 16th, and Sheffield United 17th. It means there are new contenders for a place in the Premier League compared to other seasons. Millwall may have played one more game than Ipswich but sit just a point and a place behind them.

Signings can be the difference in securing a place in the automatic promotion places, finishing in the play-offs, or in dropping out of the top six altogether. That is why teams remain active in January, but deals between rivals are less likely to come off.

Jaden Philogene, Jack Clarke, Wes Burns, Kasey McAteer, Sindre Walle Egeli, and Anis Mehmeti are among the wide forwards at Kieran McKenna's disposal but it's an area he likes to have quality in.

That is evidenced by the fact only Marcelino Nunez is in double figures for goal involvements (goals and assists) in the squad, with George Hirst only having seven league goal contributions so far.

Rotation is needed, as well as quality, which is why the in-form Femi Azeez was lined up on deadline day. Per Southwark News, the Lions rejected multiple bids for winger Azeez, including an offer that would have broken their club-record sale.

It's said that the Tractor Boys submitted several offers for Millwall’s talisman on deadline day alone but each bid has been rebuffed, with the report stating Millwall's reasoning for the firm stance.

They are determined to keep their leading goalscorer because they are pushing for their first play-off place in the Championship in over 20 years. The 24-year-old has seven goals and two assists in 19 games in all competitions this term.

Femi Azeez's career stats

Azeez's rise has been excellent over the last few years, with the winger joining from Reading and going from strength to strength in the Championship since his arrival in August 2024.

He must now be considered one of the best and most dangerous wide players in the division, with output and consistent quality. It's no wonder why Ipswich wanted him.

A move would have also weakened a rival for promotion, which is why Millwall stood firm. Alex Neil's side have strengthened this window and have an excellent chance of being in the mix come the end of May.