Millwall wait for big Mihailo Ivanovic breakthrough - Everton & Wolves have been linked | OneFootball

Mihailo Ivanovic was the subject of mass transfer interest this summer

Millwall are yet to take action on Mihailo Ivanovic's long-term future at The Den after the Serbian forward became the subject of major transfer interest throughout the summer window.

The 20-year-old had emerged as a prime target for a plethora of Premier League, Championship and European top-flight outfits in the off-season and beginning of the current second-tier campaign after eventually setting the second-tier alight following an initially slow start to his first campaign with the Lions.

Alex Neil oversaw plenty of transfer activity in this part of South London during his first pre-season in charge of the club following his appointment on New Year's Eve, with Millwall hoping to eventually break into the play-off picture in the Championship after a handful of near misses since their promotion from League One back in 2017.

Unsurprisingly, with interest in the highly-rated international forward rife, it was crucial for the Scot to retain Ivanovic's services in the short-term. However, there is yet to be a breakthrough when it comes to holding talks over a fresh contract, with clubs expected to renew their interest when the transfer window reopens on January 1st.

At the time of his switch to SE16 from Vojvodina last summer, Ivanovic had become the Lions' record transfer for an incoming player, as they invested £2.8m in the young prospect's signature.

After a steady adjustment to the rigours and physicality of the Championship - two facets which are strongly associated with Millwall - the ex-Sampdoria man eventually clicked into gear and ended the season as the club's top scorer with 12 goals in total, with some of those finishes against Luton Town and Preston North End catching the eye in particular.

With Neil's side unable to make the play-offs on the final day, it was reported that Serie A outfit, Parma, had submitted an unsuccessful €10m bid in July, and they would see another offer rejected with just days of the window remaining.

It was reported that a low-ball bid of £7m was submitted and, unsurprisingly, knocked back by the Championship side who demanded at least £15m for Ivanovic's services - a figure that would trump the previous club-record outgoing, with Romain Esse joining London rivals Crystal Palace for £14.5m in the January transfer window last season.

However, amid fellow interest from the likes of Lazio, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at varying points of the summer window, it has now been reported by Football Insider that the striker's current employers are yet to take action on a new contract for their prized asset.

It has been claimed that the Lions' price-tag in the now-closed window put off the array of suitors interested in striking a deal, although it is anticipated that such interest will return from New Year's Day when business can be conducted once more.

At the time of his transfer, it was stated on Millwall's official website that Ivanovic had penned a "long-term contract", although the length of said deal is yet to be disclosed.

Despite his importance to the side and his strong technical ability when leading the line, according to Capology - a site which ESTIMATES player earnings - the one-time senior international earns just £2,000 per week, with just four players taking home a lesser sum of £1,500.

Such figures truly don't match up with the standard of player Ivanovic currently is, and is set to become in the years which follow, meaning it is imperative for the hierarchy at The Den to secure fresh terms as soon as possible, which will only protect his value and increase their power in the transfer window when deciding where his long-term future lies.

It has been an inconsistent start to the current Championship campaign for Ivanovic and his side in general, with the forward registering an assist during an impressive performance and victory over Sheffield United, although he will be desperate to get off the goalscoring mark sooner rather than later following the conclusion of the transfer window and international break.