GARY ROWETT is expecting players to come and go in the upcoming January transfer window, although he isn’t intending on making wholesale changes ahead of the second half of the campaign.
The Millwall boss previously revealed to NewsAtDen that the Lions would start to put their transfer plans into place during the World Cup break, with an eye on bringing in signings that suit their new 4-2-3-1 formation.
Millwall had recruited for a back five over the summer, which was their preferred system at the start of the season, although the manager claimed that improving his squad’s versatility was a big part of his plans ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
“Even in the summer, we were always flexible,” Rowett explained.
“We were looking at where those players could play, we wouldn’t be so stupid to recruit for one formation solely. There’s different variants.
“Of course, flipping to a back four, if we feel that’s the way to go in the long-term, there’s certain areas where we might have a little bit of lightness in the squad. That’s always going to happen.
“The international break is a great opportunity to sit down and really start to nail down targets and watch a few games within that period.
“I don’t imagine we’re going to do absolute bundles because John [Berylson] was very supportive in the summer and it would be wrong of me to go cap in hand to him and say we need three or four players.
“You’re always looking to add one or two players to your squad and there’s always likely to be one or two players that see their futures elsewhere.”
Many supporters are keen for Millwall to add a target man striker to their team, something which they don’t currently have. The Lions still use quite a direct approach to their attacks, but lack someone like Matt Smith that can hold up the ball and bring the other attackers into play.
Rowett refused to say whether a tall, physical striker could be on the club’s shopping list in January, although he did admit that he was keen to improve his side’s threat in the final third.
“I don’t think it’s fair for me to be specific about where we’re looking to recruit and in what positions.
“There’s areas of the team that the club had previously, but it doesn’t mean to say that we’ve not tried to go away from that and be more mobile, being able to press better and move better as a team.
“I think there’s always elements of things that you want. Goals are always thing that you’re going to want, I think if you ask any manager up and down the country, they’d always add another striker or another creative player to their squad.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s anything we’re absolutely desperate for, but what John’s proven in the past is that if there’s something out there that’s good value and could improve the team, what I would say about our owner is that he has always tried to provide that and back us.
“We’ll have those conversations and see where we go with it.”
Photo: Millwall FC