"There'll be an offer" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit raises Japhet Tanganga exit fear at Millwall | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Sky Sports pundit has admitted that he believes Japhet Tanganga could leave Millwall before the transfer window closes.

Lee Hendrie has admitted that he believes that there is a very real chance that Japhet Tanganga will leave Millwall before the close of the summer transfer window.

The signing of Tanganga was an audacious move from Millwall, when they took him on loan from Spurs in the 2023-24 winter transfer window and managed to make the signing permanent the following summer.

Tanganga was Millwall's outstanding performer last season, as the Lions got to 8th place in the Championship, only narrowly missing out on a place in the play-offs.

He was voted their Player of the Year, and there has been a summer of speculation over his future, with interest from both Premier League clubs and abroad.

And although Millwall kick off their Championship season this weekend with an away match at Norwich City, the transfer window doesn't close until the end of the month, meaning that there's plenty of time for interested clubs to try and tempt the defender away from The Den.

Lee Hendrie issues Millwall warning over Tanganga interest

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has warned that Tanganga's performances for Millwall last season will attract the interest of other clubs before the closure of the transfer window: "He's been a really big player for Millwall. Before the window closes, there'll be an offer on the table for him."

Hendrie was very impressed by what he saw of Tanganga at Millwall last season: "I think he's been excellent since moving there, and I was quite shocked that he made the move. But I think that he's been one of their outstanding players since going there and has showed that he's got that hunger to kick on."

But Hendrie is aware that this sort of performance is the very reason why there will be interest from other clubs, and that he could be tempted away: "So for me, it wouldn't surprise me if he does leave the club before the window closes."

Interest in Tanganga is partly on account of his low release clause

Japhet Tanganga is just about to enter the final year of his contract with Millwall, and there have been reports that he has been offered a new contract by the club, as rivals circle for his signature.

He has been the subject of intense transfer speculation all summer, caused in no small part by the relatively low amount of the release clause in his Millwall contract. The Sun reported in June that this release clause is just £1.2 million, and that there were five Premier League clubs ready to take him on.

There has also been interest in him from abroad, but the complication is that the low release clause only applies to Premier League clubs. Sky Sports reported that Verona bid £2.6 million for him in July, but the Lions refused this bid on that basis. With a new contract offered and a bid of more than double his release clause already rejected, Millwall are making it as clear as they can that they want to keep this accomplished defender at their club for the coming season.