Millwall FC: Josh Coburn "issue" uncovered after record-breaking £5m Middlesbrough transfer agreement | OneFootball

FLW's Millwall Fan Pundit gives his mixed verdict on the arrival of club-record signing Josh Coburn from Middlesbrough.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Having missed out on a top six spot and the play-off places on the final day of last season, Millwall are building to go again for next season under the management of Alex Neil.

The Lions have what is already a strong-looking squad, and it has been bolstered by the now permanent addition of Middlesbrough striker Josh Coburn, for a fee believed to be in the region of £5 million+.

22-year-old Coburn, once a Bristol Rovers loanee, spent last season on loan at The Den, but had his overall playing time limited due to injuries.

Now he has returned on a permanent basis to Bermondsey, there will be a feeling of excitement with regards to his potential, and what he could add to a likely promotion challenger.

Verdict issued on Millwall's Josh Coburn deal - key aspect highlighted

Having now arrived for what is a club-record fee, Coburn will be under a fair bit of pressure to not necessarily perform immediately, but simply to stay fit enough to contribute regularly.

He was often missing from Millwall’s squad due to injury last season, but did appear to have a positive impact on the side when he was fully fit and available.

For that reason, FLW’s Millwall fan pundit, Lucas Ball, believes that the signing of Coburn is a good one, but he understands reservations from the outside with regards to the transfer fee.

Lucas said: “I think that Coburn had a strong season generally when he was available last year.

“The issue for us now will be keeping him available and making sure that he is looked after, and we can get him through as many minutes as possible.

“I think that is going to be tough, given his injury record at times, but, saying that, there are some players that had not great injury records and then in the last couple of years with us have played an awful lot more games than we would have previously expected.

“I think that is one of the markers of this deal. He has signed a long-term contract, so he’s hopefully here for the long-term.

“He’s clearly a striker with a lot of potential. He has a lot of attributes and the characteristics that Millwall want in a frontman, and he formed a really good partnership with Mihailo Ivanovic at the back end of last year, too, so the potential to see them two work together is really exciting.

“I think we won five out of the seven league games that those two started together, so that bodes well, and it also gives you the opportunity to play 4-4-2 at times, which Alex Neil was a fan of last year.

“In terms of the fee, I think £5 million at face value sounds like a lot of money but, by the sounds of it, it is a lower fee up-front and then a lot of add-ons related to if we get promoted and appearance targets.

“I think if we get the amount of appearances that we want out of him and then have to pay more money, then I think that will be viewed as a good thing, because he’s had a positive impact for the most part of when he was available last season.

“Obviously, if we end up paying £1.5 million or £2 million extra because we’ve gone up to the Premier League, then it will look more than worthwhile.

“I wouldn’t say we have been fleeced, but I can understand and see why people would say it is on the slightly more expensive side.”

Millwall’s challenge for next season

Neil Harris had been back in charge of Millwall until mid-December when the club legend decided to once again depart in the aftermath of some issues with supporters.

Former Sunderland boss Alex Neil took charge and produced an excellent second-half to the campaign, in which it appeared as though Millwall may well squeeze themselves into the top six, only for supporters to rue and perhaps ponder 'if only the season was a game or two longer'.

Millwall, who have recruited well from on the continent in recent years, with the likes of Ivanovic as well as Casper De Norre and Zian Flemming, have been able to successfully mix more traditional, hard-working values with the flair and quality of those from abroad.

With Neil now set to take charge of a full season at The Den, there will be an expectation and a belief that they can once again challenge for the top six next season, with Coburn no doubt hoping to fire them there.