Helik in, Nisbet out: The dream start to Millwall's summer transfer window | OneFootball

Millwall enjoyed a strong end to the season, winning their last five games to finish 13th in the Championship table.

It's been a mixed campaign for the Lions, who've been through three different managers before eventually settling on club legend and former manager Neil Harris.

Harris has guided Millwall into mid table after the Londoners briefly flirted with relegation. But he'll be looking to build towards a promotion push next season after an excellent finish this year.

Millwall have benefitted from loan deals this season, and with the likes of Japhet Tanganga and Michael Obafemi returning to their parent clubs, replacing them will be a challenge for Harris.

The Lions may be busy in the transfer market, but they know that if they get their business right this summer, a play-off push is not beyond their reach.

With that in mind, we take a look at who needs to come in and who needs to leave if Millwall are to start the summer transfer window in the right way.

Out: Kevin Nisbet

Scottish striker Nisbet only joined Millwall from Hibernian last summer but has already fallen down the pecking order after disciplinary issues saw him dropped from the squad by Harris.

Harris cited the need to set standards when asked about Nisbet's exclusion from the matchday squad against Swansea City on the final day of the season, and it appears he may not see the 27-year-old in his plans.

Nisbet scored five goals before the turn of the year but has started just four games for Millwall in 2024.

Nisbet's exit feels inevitable, with Harris looking to build a team in his image, and Millwall will be hopeful of recouping the majority of the £2m fee they paid for the forward.

In: Michal Helik

Millwall's success this season has been built on their rock-solid defence.

Despite finishing 13th, they have the sixth-best defensive record in the league after conceding just 55 goals - two fewer than Ipswich Town, who were recently promoted to the Premier League.

A big part of their defensive set-up has been the imperious centre-half Tanganga, who arrived on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

The 25-year-old is, however, set to return to north London, leaving a gaping hole in Millwall's backline.

Replacing Tanganga will be difficult, and Harris would be wise to look at Huddersfield's Polish centre-half Michal Helik as an option.

The towering defender was a standout performer in an otherwise disjointed Huddersfield team, whose relegation to League One was confirmed on the final day of the season, and with a remarkable nine goals to his name, the centre-half has proven to be a threat in both boxes.

Helik has also shown his qualities as a leader, taking the captain's armband in Huddersfield's last six games, and the 28-year-old has experience of getting a team to the play-offs from his time at Barnsley.

Helik could be available at a fraction of his market value following Huddersfield's relegation, and he would provide the experience and quality needed for Millwall to mount a promotion push next season.

If Millwall are serious about building a squad and a culture capable of challenging for a playoff spot, there would be a lot of sense in letting Nisbet go and bringing in a player of Helik's stature to supplement the loss of Tanganga.