Leeds United have joined Burnley and Sheffield United in the race for FC Basel winger Liam Millar, who spent last season on loan with Preston North End.
Sheffield United have been credited with an interest in signing Millar from the Swiss giants this summer, and a move was advancing fast.
However, according to The Athletic, the 24-year-old is being tracked by multiple Championship sides this summer, after the Canada international spent last season on loan at Preston North End, where he made 36 appearances in all competitions.
Liam Millar linked to Leeds United
Those sides include Burnley and Leeds, with the Whites on the receiving end of three of his goal contributions last season, including when he gave Archie Gray a torrid time at Deepdale back in December.
Millar contributed five goals and five assists overall for Ryan Lowe’s team, who finished 10th in the Championship, and he has since returned to his parent club Basel, where he has just 12 months remaining on his current contract and could be available for a cut-price fee.
It is understood that the Canadian has a release clause in his contract, which is running into its final year. At the moment, Millar is competing in the latest edition of Copa America, with Jesse Marsch’s side losing their opening game to world champions Argentina 2-0.
| Liam Millar’s career stats – per Transfermarkt (24/06/24) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Liverpool | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kilmarnock | 36 | 2 | 3 |
| Charlton Athletic | 27 | 3 | 6 |
| FC Basel | 98 | 13 | 10 |
| Preston North End | 36 | 5 | 5 |
| Canada | 27 | 1 | 2 |
Millar is not a Crysencio Summerville upgrade
Leeds will be sweating on the futures of vital players after failure to gain promotion at the first time of asking, with Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto perhaps two of they key men that will almost certainly have plenty of summer interest.
Here, we ask our FLW writers their verdict on whether he could fill their boots next season, with the pair of wingers expected to move on before the end of the transfer window.
Adam Elliott
Millar is a good footballer, at the right age, with the versatility to play as an attacking wing-back or winger, as showcased with Preston last season. In that sense, Leeds and Burnley are likely to be interested, but they are among the favourites for promotion and will both be looking to build teams capable of competing for the automatic promotion places next season.
The winger is a player Leeds fans will remember well last season, and he is a versatile figure capable of playing across the left flank, and brought a creative output to Ryan Lowe’s side that makes him an attractive proposition; but is he at the level required for a team fighting for the top two? I’d argue not.
Millar could be a bench or depth option for a team like Leeds, but as a starter to replace either of Gnonto or Summerville, Leeds fans would have every right to feel underwhelmed. His output would improve in a better team, but even with a slight restructuring of the profiles in Leeds’ attack, Millar is not someone who strikes fear into the opposition in the same way as the other pair.
Leeds require a superstar or two to help retool their new-look forward line, and Millar would be a significant downgrade in quality-terms on either Summerville or Gnonto. He may have cemented himself as a key part of Lowe’s team last season, earning plaudits for his performances and work rate down the left and becoming a fan favourite, but his skill-set would not move the needle for Daniel Farke and co. this summer.
It’s difficult to envisage a world where Leeds find a way to upgrade on the aforementioned pair, but if he were to sign, then Millar should be no more than a squad or bench option to impact games and provide depth at Elland Road. It won’t be cheap, but a good portion of Leeds’ budget should be set aside for some quality difference-makers in the final third next season.
Farke arguably needs a number-nine who can act as a focal point, as well as speed and directness out wide to replace what is lost with Gnonto and Summerville, but he also needs a playmaker as well. Millar may have some useful attributes but isn’t a significant choice in any of those areas. Instead, his game time in West Yorkshire may be more akin to what Jaidon Anthony received last season from the bench.
Alfie Burns
You can assume that, given Millar has been linked with Leeds, that the club are preparing a list of targets in case Daniel Farke loses Crysencio Summerville.
Millar is a good player and showed his quality against Leeds. He’s a threat from the left, cutting in onto his right-foot, and the fact that Archie Gray, who breezed through so many matches, struggled against him, tells you the talent he has at Championship level.
However, we are talking about a Summerville replacement here. Summerville nearly notched 30 goal involvements in the Championship last season and Millar managed only 10. If Leeds are replacing Summerville directly in the market, they are going to need to be a touch more ambitious you’d think.
For what it’s worth, if they get good money for Summerville and can convince Willy Gnonto to stay, he can replace the Dutchman on the left, with Daniel James coming onto the right. There’s also scope for James to move left and even Georginio Rutter to shift out wide – although that’s more likely onto the right. Either way, Leeds have some in-house options to replace Summerville this summer.
Millar would probably be a better squad option for the automatic promotion hopefuls, potentially taking the role that Jaidon Anthony had in Farke’s squad last season. However, after a decent year at PNE, it’s unlikely to appeal too much to Millar to just become squad depth. He will back himself to be a difference-maker for a top-six challenger.
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