Millwall FC latest: Namory Cisse/Plymouth Argyle transfer battle, Billy Mitchell injury news, Neil Harris transfer hint | OneFootball

FLW rounds up all the latest news and rumours from The Den

Highlights

Neil Harris has a lot of work to do this summer ahead of a big 2024/25 campaign in which Millwall will look to build on a 13th-placed finish in the Championship last season.

Harris returned for his second spell as Lions boss in February with the club 21st in the Championship and one point above the relegation zone but a strong end to the season under his guidance saw them end mid-table with a good platform to build on for the upcoming season.

The club published their 2023/24 retained list in May ahead of a busy transfer window, as club legends Shaun Hutchinson and Bartosz Bialkowski both departed The Den, while defender Alex Mitchell has since joined Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee.

In terms of incomings, the Lions have completed the permanent signings of highly sought-after Notts County striker Macauley Langstaff, former Tottenham Hotspur loanee Japhet Tanganga, and Lincoln City's Danish goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.

Harris will be pleased with the work done so far but there will still be plenty of progress to be made this summer before the new season gets underway, and with that in mind, Football League World outlines the latest news and rumours coming out of The Den.

Namory Cisse/Plymouth Argyle transfer race

While Millwall have already bolstered their attacking ranks with Langstaff, it seems as if Harris is not yet content with his current striking options heading into the new campaign.

According to Football Insider, the Lions are battling fellow second-tier side Plymouth Argyle to sign striker Namory Cisse from Austrian 2. Liga side Austria Lustenau.

Cisse will be a relative unknown to English football fans - he is 6ft 4in, 21-years-old, and netted three goals in 26 games for Lustenau as they were relegated from the Austrian top tier last season.

He only has one year left on his contract at his current club and is clearly highly rated in his native country after he won a cap for the Austria national U-21 side last month.

Millwall were the second-lowest scorers in the Championship last season with 45 goals, so it would make sense as to why Harris is not stopping at just Langstaff, and Cisse could be the latest Lions recruit through the door in the coming weeks.

Billy Mitchell injury blow

Millwall have suffered another injury setback to add to winger Adam Mayor and goalkeeper Connal Trueman's existing absences ahead of the new campaign.

Midfielder Billy Mitchell is set to miss their opening game of the season against Watford after picking up a thigh injury in training prior to the Lions' first pre-season friendly test at Gillingham, according to NewsAtDen.

Harris has confirmed that the 23-year-old will miss the season opener against Watford but refused to put a date on his return.

He joins both Mayor and Trueman on the treatment table, with each also set to miss the start of the campaign, but Harris will be buoyed by Zian Flemming and new signings Tanganga and Langstaff all returning to full training this week.

Mitchell's absence leaves George Saville, Casper De Norre, and Ryan Leonard as Harris' midfield options ahead of the Watford game, and he started with the first two partnering each other in the middle of the park in their behind-closed-doors friendly win against Charlton on July 16, so may be thinking of doing the same on August 10.

Harris targeting more through the Den door

The Lions' squad is currently looking quite bare with just under a month until the new season kicks off and Harris is targeting two new signings before the club jet off to Spain on July 21 for warm-weather training and two friendlies against Nottingham Forest and Real Murcia.

At this moment in time, he has one fit first-team goalkeeper, three centre-backs, and one right-winger in his squad, but is hopeful of fresh faces arriving in south-east London soon.

"Hopefully at least one more would be lovely if not two more before going to Spain. It would be a dream scenario for me," he told NewsAtDen on July 12.

“Obviously I’m putting the recruitment guys under a bit of pressure there, but adding to the group next week further would be a dream scenario for me to take a really strong first-team group to Spain for two really tough fixtures while we’re there.

“But to add to the spine of the team is vitally important. To bring Japhet back into that defensive unit that did so well at the end of last season. To bring Macaulay in who has excitement and brings something different to the front line which I know everyone is really excited about seeing how he develops and how his progress goes."

There will certainly need to be more concrete transfer links if Harris is to get his wish of two new players before next week, but it will definitely stand his squad in good stead if the club are able to complete more signings in the coming days.