Ipswich Town must hate fresh Leeds United, Sunderland AFC transfer news | OneFootball

Femi Azeez could be Premier League-bound in some form this summer

Ipswich Town and Millwall are two sides currently harbouring ambitions of promotion to the Premier League in the final weeks of the season, although whether that is to be achieved through the automatic or play-off route remains to be seen.

The Tractor Boys were fancied, by many, to immediately return to the top-flight as winners of the Championship under Kieran McKenna before a ball was kicked, largely due to the finances and squad depth on offer at Portman Road compared to several divisional rivals.

However, they currently find themselves behind the Lions, Middlesbrough and Coventry City on that particular front, with Alex Neil's side, in particular, emerging as one of the surprise packages of the campaign alongside fellow promotion hopefuls, Hull City.

Supporters in South London are starting to believe that this could very much be the year in which Millwall break their long-standing exile from the top division of English football, having seen their only two-year stint amongst the elite come to an end 36 years ago.

Neil's side have received plenty of plaudits for the way they have performed over recent weeks and months, with no other side currently in the top six also placed amongst this particular area of the table when it comes to the number of points accumulated both home and away.

Millwall have always carried a reputation for being defensively resolute - particularly on home turf- but have recently evolved away from a stereotypical 'direct' style, with several strong technicians and ball carriers at the Scot's disposal.

One man at the front and centre of everything good in SE16 at present is right-winger, Femi Azeez, who was recruited from League One side, Reading, for just £1m in the summer of 2024.

And, as things stand, there is every chance he will be plying his trade in the Premier League one way or another next season amid news that will give those at Portman Road a bitter taste in the mouth.

Ipswich Town were unsuccessful in several Deadline Day bids for Millwall ace Femi Azeez

After a mixed first season with the Lions, the 24-year-old has certainly come into his own in Neil's first full term as manager.

Despite missing 11 Championship outings so far through injury at various stages of the campaign, the London-born attacker's influence on Millwall's charge towards promotion cannot be undervalued in any shape or form.

Although it took until October for Azeez's season to burst into life, his creative threat was perfectly showcased by a run of four goals and one assist in four games, and since the turn of the year, he has posted a further six assists.

Unsurprisingly, such form has alerted a whole cluster of sides, with the first of those being Ipswich in the dying stages of the winter transfer window.

It has been well-documented that McKenna can call upon the likes of Anis Mehmeti, Jack Clarke, Sindre Walle Egeli, Wes Burns and the currently-sidelined Jaden Philogene out wide, but that didn't stop the Suffolk side from attempting to lure Azeez away from The Den.

With Millwall in no position to cash in on their prized asset - particularly to a direct rival - several bids were rejected, including one which would have trumped the £12m they gathered for the sale of Romain Esse to Crystal Palace in January 2025.

Neil also took a positive outlook on Town's unsuccessful bids, saying: I think what [message] it sends to people is the fact that we're in a really good spot."

Ipswich Town's chances of signing Femi Azeez this summer may already be slim

Of course, there is a possibility that, either way around, Ipswich and Millwall could be one division apart next season. If the Lions are to be promoted, then the chances of Town being able to have any chance of signing Azeez would take another major hit.

Even if they are to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, there is now no guarantee that the winger would move to Portman Road, with it being reported that Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Sunderland and Everton have all expressed an interest in striking a deal.

Palace are understood to have taken an in-depth look at Azeez, meaning that he could move to Selhurst Park in the summer regardless of who replaces Oliver Glasner in the dugout.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have enjoyed a fine first season back in the Premier League and will be looking to add further depth and quality to Regis Le Bris' squad, which Azeez would hope to provide, whilst the chances of Everton competing in some form of European competition next season cannot be ruled out at this stage.

As such, Millwall could be presented with a transfer saga akin to the one which previously surrounded Serbian striker, Mihailo Ivanovic - who signed a new contract in September after such news was exclusively broken by FLW.