"Not the right time" - Millwall told to resist Mihailo Ivanovic sale despite expected interest | OneFootball

FLW’s Millwall fan pundit hopes to retain Mihailo Ivanovic’s services this summer

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...

With Millwall launching a late charge for the Championship play-offs under Alex Neil, fans are daring to dream - but that surge in form has also brought fresh interest in some of their brightest talents.

The Lions’ recent run of four wins from their last five games has seen them gatecrash the race for the top six, and a 1-0 win over direct rivals Middlesbrough only added to the sense that something special might be brewing in SE16.

Central to that momentum has been the emergence of 20-year-old striker Mihailo Ivanovic. Signed in a club-record deal from Serbian side Vojvodina last summer, Ivanovic arrived as a relatively unknown gamble, but a return of 11 Championship goals - and five in his last six outings - has quickly turned him into one of Millwall’s most exciting assets.

With the club’s model leaning increasingly towards player trading, there’s a sense that Ivanovic’s form may attract summer suitors.

Selling Ivanovic now would be a mistake, warns Millwall fan pundit

Football League World asked Millwall fan pundit Lucas Ball which one player he really doesn’t want to lose this summer - and why.

Ball sees Mihailo Ivanovic as the one player Millwall simply can’t afford to lose this summer. Still raw but already hitting double figures, the 20-year-old striker has huge potential - and under Alex Neil’s guidance, Lucas believes he could become a key part of the Lions' future, both on the pitch and as a valuable long-term asset: now isn’t the time to sell.

“The obvious answer would be Japhet Tanganga but actually to be fair to him, Tristan Crama has slotted in quite nicely at centre back for when Tanganga was unavailable for those couple of games recently, so I’d still love to keep Tanganga obviously, but we’ve got in Crama a very capable replacement and someone that will only continue to develop, and can play at right back as well which is nice to have that versatility.” He told FLW.

“So I’d think the one I’d probably like to keep hold of more is Mihailo Ivanovic up top, looks like he’lll develop into a really top striker, really excited about his potential and future, so he’ll be a massive one for us to keep hold of.

“I think clubs will have a little look this summer, I think they’ll see he’s still quite raw in a few aspects of his game, he’s still a young lad just learning his way in England.”

“It’s easy to forget that when he’s got double figures for league goals in his first season over here, so just for the fact I’m really excited to see where he goes under a coach like Alex Neil as well, who’s developed him so quickly, just in this three, four month spell already, so the more work they can do together over the summer and heading into next season, hopefully he can continue to develop and potentially look next season up to that higher teens, if not hopefully hitting up towards 20 goals if he continues to develop in the way that he has.

“But it’s a really exciting prospect for the club, we know that Millwall have kind of tried to move on to this strategy to sell players to make a profit, but you have to try and get the timing right with that as well, you can’t just sell everyone every time there’s a bid.

“And you have to try and keep players at the right times, and then think about when you’re reinvesting, how much you’re reinvesting, at what time does the squad need a bit more rebuilding, so you have to be smart with that, and I don’t think this summer would be the right time to sell Ivanovic.”

Millwall must balance ambition and business in Ivanovic transfer dilemma

With momentum on their side and a play-off place within reach, Millwall find themselves at a crucial crossroads.

Ivanovic’s rise has been a symbol of the Lions' smart recruitment and bold ambition - but with interest mounting, the challenge will be holding onto him long enough to reap the full rewards.

Selling too soon could mean Millwall miss out on something special.

For a club looking to build rather than rebuild, Ivanovic represents more than just a profitable asset - he’s a player who could help shape the next chapter at The Den. Timing, now more than ever, is everything.