Femi Azeez: Millwall boss sends transfer warning to Hull City

Millwall manager Alex Neil has warned Hull City and other interested clubs that the Championship side will not be pressured into selling Super Eagles forward Femi Azeez for less than his value, Soccernet reports.

The 25-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists as the Lions finished third in the Championship, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion.

Millwall have already shown their determination to keep the Nigerian, rejecting bids from Ipswich Town for Azeez during the January transfer window.

The forward remains an important part of Neil's squad as Millwall prepare for another promotion push, but interest in his services has continued into the summer.

Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!

Neil warns clubs not to undercut Millwall

Neil believes Millwall are in a strong position because they have no immediate need to sell Azeez, despite the growing interest in the forward.

“When the window’s open, I don’t think we ever get distracted. Good players attract interest; it’s as simple as that,” Neil told NewsAtDen in quotes revealed by Southwark News.

“It’s no secret that in January Femi had interest and bids made for him. Jimmy, supporting the team, the club, myself, decided he wasn’t taking any bids for any of our key players at that moment, which was great.

“It allowed us to then go on to finish third, and Femi was a fundamental part of that, but like every player, every player’s got their price.

“What I will say is that if anybody is trying to undercut us or go cheap on it, then we don’t need to sell anybody. It puts us in a strong position in that sense.”

Neil's comments make it clear that Millwall are not against selling Azeez, but any potential deal must meet their valuation.

The club's decision to reject Ipswich's January bids proved valuable, with the two-cap Super Eagles star going on to play a key role in their promotion challenge, which ended in a play-off loss.

Millwall boss shocked by Femi Azeez situation

The Scottish manager also believes the Nigerian's numbers should have attracted even greater competition for his signature, especially after Wayne Rooney's endorsement.

“I’m surprised, honestly, that there’s not been a bit of an auction on Femi to this point. You buy goals and assists, and Femi has been as good as anybody in the last season or two at this level.

“Let’s see what the next few weeks bring,” the 45-year-old concluded.

Azeez's 18 goal contributions last season underline Neil's assessment, while for Hull City, the attraction is clear. The club are looking to strengthen after their return to the Premier League, and Azeez's experience and Championship numbers make him an appealing addition.

However, Millwall's stance means Hull will likely have to make a serious financial commitment if they want to take the Super Eagles forward away from The Den.

With the transfer window still open, the next few weeks could determine whether Azeez remains central to Millwall's promotion ambitions or makes the move to the Premier League.