Ipswich Town & Southampton FC both have very good reasons to sign £4.5m-rated star | OneFootball

Lennon Miller looks destined for greatness, and he could find that in the Championship in 2025/26

Lennon Miller is being touted as one of Scottish football’s most exciting young talents, having already made over 50 Scottish Premiership appearances for Motherwell alongside a couple of senior Scottish national team caps before his 19th birthday.

Because of this, a whole host of clubs are forming a disorderly queue to try and bag the 18-year-old’s services this summer, two of which include recently relegated Premier League sides, Ipswich Town and Southampton.

Both Will Still, and Kieran McKenna will be on the search for some midfield additions this summer. The Saints could begin the 2025/26 campaign without Joe Aribo and Flynn Downes, whilst Ipswich have seen loanees Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste and Julio Ensisco all leave alongside now-free agent Massimo Luongo.

Miller’s versatility in the central midfield positions and leadership at such a young age mean that the £4.5 million-rated midfielder would be a huge coup for either side in their quest to return to the Premier League, and they should put up a good fight against foreign top-flight sides to secure a deal.

Lennon Miller's SPL excellence means Ipswich and Southampton interest is a no-brainer

Whilst some may regard the SPL as a league lacking in quality across the board compared to other divisions outside of Scotland, what Miller has been able to do in that division at such a young age cannot be underestimated.

The 2006-born star was the first name on the Motherwell team sheet last season, starting every league game he was available for, and even captained the side in the final few months of 2024.

He was able to show real improvement from his first season at the club, scoring twice more and assisting six more times in the 2024/25 campaign than in the term before, and he looks set to get even better yet again in 2025/26.

Last season, Miller showed that he was adept at playing a multitude of positions in the midfield. Whilst his main position is in the central ‘number eight’ position, he’s shown that he can drop deeper as a holding midfielder, or even be relied on to join attacks as a more forward-thinking creative outlet.

In a long 46-game Championship season, having those players who can operate in several different key positions is important, and given that he was only substituted five times in his 32 league starts in 2024/25, his endurance and willingness to keep running at such a young age means that it isn’t a surprise that both Ipswich and Southampton are showing interest.

Per Fotmob, Miller ranked inside the top 10% of central midfielders in the SPL for a range of stats, including chances created, assists, and accurate long balls, but also duels won, recoveries and interceptions, which shows how complete a player he already is.

A need for midfield reinforcement should push the promoted duo to increase their pursuit of Lennon Miller

Lennon Miller would be a statement signing for either side, even if people weren’t taking into account that both sides are on the hunt for starting midfielders following their relegation from the Premier League.

A lot of Ipswich’s middle pack last season in the Premier League were loaned from other clubs, and now, with Kalvin Phillips, Jens Cajuste and Julio Ensico all back at their parent sides, Kieran McKenna is in desperate need of bodies in the middle ahead of their big season opener against Birmingham City.

And, whilst Southampton come into the new season boasting the likes of Shea Charles and Will Smallbone as midfield options alongside both Joe Aribo and Flynn Downes, who could still depart the club this summer, adding someone with the quality of Miller could see him become their new marquee man in the middle as the Saints look to make yet another swift return to the Premier League.

Both sides are likely going to have to battle with Serie A sides Como and Udinese this summer, and given the recent successes of fellow Scottish midfielders Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson and Billy Gilmour out in Italy, you wouldn’t blame Miller for wanting to follow in their footsteps.

But you also wouldn’t blame him for wanting to pursue a Premier League dream. If he does, then Ipswich and Southampton should be champing at the bit to secure his services.