£10m Tanganga move leaves Sheffield United hopeful and Millwall smiling | OneFootball

Millwall have seamlessly replaced Japhet Tanganga with West Brom's Caleb Taylor

Japhet Tanganga made the switch from Millwall to Sheffield United this summer, though the Lions have seamlessly replaced the former Tottenham Hotspur defender with the acquisition of Caleb Taylor from West Brom.

Under Alex Neil, Millwall have been a tricky opponent for almost every side across the second tier, with the Lions looking to write the wrongs from last season and fire themselves into the top six come the end of the campaign.

Indeed, they missed out on a place in the top six last season by just two points, but this time around, they look well-placed to make amends, and all without the club's most recent Player of the Year award recipient, Japhet Tanganga.

The former England youth international made 40 league appearances for the Lions last year, with his performances attracting interest from teams in the top flight and Championship, though it would be Sheffield United who would complete a deal worth a potential £10 million for the 26-year-old.

At the time, it looked like a huge blow for Millwall, though, given that this has been indicative of their recruitment in recent years, they have been able to replace him seamlessly.

Millwall replaced Japhet Tanganga with West Brom’s Caleb Taylor

Following Tanganga’s switch to Bramall Lane, Millwall identified numerous potential replacements for their outgoing star and landed on West Brom’s Caleb Taylor, paying the Baggies a fee worth around £2.5 million for the 23-year-old.

Taylor came through the ranks at West Brom, though would never nail down a place in the Baggies squad after successful loans with the likes of Cheltenham Town, Bolton Wanderers, and Wycombe Wanderers, the latter of which he made 38 League One appearances with last season and hugely impressed with his defensive displays.

Millwall saw enough to offer the young Englishman a route out of the Hawthorns, something which West Brom may well be regretting now, given their current predicament and how he has performed since his move to The Den.

Taylor has made 20 league appearances for the Lions this season, providing strong competition for the likes of Tristan Crama and Jake Cooper at the heart of Millwall’s defence.

He has recently found himself helping out at the other end of the pitch as well, with two goals and two assists in his last six league games, as well as three clean sheets, as his form of late has been truly excellent.

His performances have likely made many Millwall fans forget all about Tanganga, who they sold for four times the amount they signed Taylor for, in what is looking like another excellent piece of business by the London club.

Millwall are the early winners in the Japhet Tanganga to Sheffield United deal

Whilst Millwall are thriving without Tanganga, the Englishman has endured a mixed time since his move to South Yorkshire.

Signed under former Reading and Hull City boss Ruben Selles, who was dismissed by the Blades after just six games and replaced by Chris Wilder, the Englishman has been a regular in the club's defence, making 27 league appearances thus far.

With the likes of Tyler Bindon, Mark McGuinness, Leo Hjelde, and Ben Mee for competition, the former Lion has been one of the first names on the team sheet when fit, despite their struggles at the beginning of the campaign.

The Blades began the season in abysmal form, with just three wins in their opening 15 league games, but have somewhat rescued their campaign since to launch themselves away from danger, although they remain some way off the top six. There remains hope that in mid-term, Tanganga can captain them on a true promotion charge.

Following Tanganga’s departure, Millwall have arguably gotten better and replaced him with a net profit of £7.5 million. As far as the deal is concerned at the moment, it’s the Lions who are the early winners in this one.