Millwall are going to have transfer vultures circling in January - but not for Mihailo Ivanovic | OneFootball

Tristan Crama has been an inspired signing for the Lions

Millwall have become one of the Championship's most in-form sides in recent weeks, as they sit just behind the automatic promotion places after 12 matches played.

Ever since regaining their second tier status under Neil Harris in the summer of 2017, there have been several instances in which the South London side have shown great signs of progress on and off the pitch, albeit it hasn't quite been good enough to land a sustained promotion bid or a place in the play-offs come the end of the season.

However, times are clearly changing at The Den at present, with the Lions under the guidance of a previous promotion winner at Championship level in the form of the highly-respected and experienced Alex Neil, who oversaw a quick transformation in fortunes which culminated in a Wembley success for Norwich City in May 2015.

Over a decade later, the Scot is hoping to do the same with Millwall, albeit having to operate in a much more shrewd manner despite the fact that the club has reinvested money made through the significant recent sales of Romain Esse and Japhet Tanganga to local rivals Crystal Palace and Sheffield United respectively.

Although the side from the capital are an established Championship side at present, current form will only increase the likelihood of transfer vultures circling around SE16 by the turn of the year.

However, they may not be targeting the man who was heavily linked with a summer exit...

Mihailo Ivanovic could've joined Japhet Tanganga as a high-profile summer departure from Millwall

It was no surprise at all, based off his form from last season, to see Mihailo Ivanovic's signature targeted by a plethora of top-flight sides either in the Premier League or on the continent.

The young Serbian immediately became one of the EFL's brightest prospects after a then-club-record switch from Vojvodina, eventually ending the season on 13 goals from 40 appearances across all competitions - the most remarkable of those being a scissor-kick strike against Luton Town in January.

The likes of Lazio, Everton, Wolves and current divisional rivals Leicester City - who were the latest side to succumb to defeat at the hands of Millwall on Saturday - were all interested in striking a deal, but not as much as Parma.

The Italian side saw a €10m bid swiftly rejected in the early weeks of the summer window, before an audacious low-ball bid was turned down in the final days of the window as Millwall believed only a club-record sale higher than £14m would be acceptable.

After talks of a breakthrough were first exclusively revealed by FLW last month, the 20-year-old signed a new long-term deal which will only protect his value further.

Yet, after a return of just one goal and one assist in 11 league appearances amid the previous speculation, it's not the exciting forward who Millwall supporters may be fearful of losing when the winter window rolls around.

Millwall will hope to retain Tristan Crama's services for the long run

Although the likes of Femi Azeez and Thierno Ballo have been extremely productive at the top end of the pitch of late, it can hardly be disputed that Neil's most reliable figure so far this season has been French defender, Tristan Crama.

After shining on loan with Exeter City during the first half of last season, the Lions looked to land a major coup when signing the 23-year-old from Brentford, and that has certainly proven to be the case in the opening nine months of his spell at the club.

Initially slotting in at right-back, Crama only added to a reliable defence which included Tanganga and Jake Cooper, whilst also posting two assists in his first 20 Championship appearances.

Yet, after starting the campaign in the same position, the Beziers native has made a seamless transition back to the heart of defence alongside Cooper, as well as Steven Benda between the goalkeeping sticks.

Crama has been an integral part behind the accumulation of four clean sheets in 12 games, as well as being rewarded through his first goal for the club against Stoke City on October 21st.

Many people are starting to take note of the defender's potential ceiling, particularly after being the subject of mass praise from West Bromwich Albion captain and former Lions winger, Jed Wallace, who told NTT20 in September: "For me, he looks like one of the best centre-halves in the division.

"He's 6 foot 4/6 foot 5, even when he's played at right-back, he's bombing down the wings. I think he's one that's been fantastic," he added.

Given the fact Crama is three years younger than Tanganga, who was sold for £7m to the Blades in August, as well as their demands for Ivanovic, it must be clear that nothing but an eight-figure fee would be deemed acceptable to see Crama leave the club in the near future.

However, Millwall supporters and Neil will hope to see him eventually plying his trade back in the top-flight with the London club, who are looking to end an exodus from the top-flight which has stood since 1990.