GARY Rowett admits it will be a “challenge” to have the squad he wants for the 2020-21 season completed before the return to pre-season training next Thursday.
Millwall have so far completed season-long loan deals for Ryan Woods from Stoke and Troy Parrott from Tottenham.
Rowett says the Lions are trying to “speed along” other deals but stressed they weren’t desperate for reinforcements before August 13, when the squad returns to Calmont Road after a three-week break.
The 2020-21 season is set to begin on Saturday, September 12 with the transfer window open until October 5.
Rowett wants a senior squad of 22 or 23 senior players, and then hopes the likes of 18-year-old defender Hayden Muller and winger Tyler Burey, 19, can challenge for a first-team place.
There are set to be some departures, with defender Jason McCarthy almost certain to leave and Rowett hasn’t guaranteed that Jiri Skalak is part of his plans for next season.
Rowett is calm about the current recruitment plans.
“We’re working through two or three options but I wouldn’t say we’re imminent on any of them,” Rowett said. “But again you don’t know with any of these deals.
“We’ve spoken about the Troy one, we worked on it for a long time and then suddenly one day you get an answer.
“So we’re not imminent on anything but we’re working hard on one or two to see if we can speed them along.
“We’ve got a little bit of time left yet. The indicator usually is when you go back for pre-season. As we know this pre-season is shorter so it will be a challenge to get most of your squad together by then, but nevertheless that’s obviously our aim.
“There are a few areas that we’d like to strengthen in different ways if we could, but I don’t think there’s an area where we’re absolutely desperate.
“Where we’ve been a little bit short is goals and options in the forward line and also impacts off the bench in the forward line. That only comes from a number of quality players and I think we’re moving towards that.
“There are one or two other areas that we’d like, but that depends on what player becomes available. We don’t want to just bring any player into those areas, we want to bring in the right player, the right chemistry of player into the club.
“Until we find those then there won’t be too much point doing anything else.”
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