Millwall set to benefit from West Brom transfer to land Japhet Tanganga replacement | OneFootball

The Lions have acted quickly to land their Japhet Tanganga replacement

Millwall are set to conclude the permanent transfer of young West Brom defender Caleb Taylor.

That’s according to the Mirror journalist Dan Marsh, who revealed that a medical has been booked for the 22-year-old at the Den.

It follows Millwall’s recent sale of Japhet Tanganga to Sheffield United, with Chris Mepham’s proposed transfer to the Baggies the other piece of the puzzle to allow Taylor’s move.

The news of Taylor’s medical broke on the same day that Tanganga’s move was announced, so the Lions have wasted no time at all in securing their replacement.

Caleb Taylor set for Millwall move

Marsh revealed that Taylor is set to undergo a medical as the Lions finalise the deal for the young defender.

He added, via the Mirror’s transfer blog [12:48], that Millwall’s interest in Taylor stretches back before the summer window, but they have decided to get it over the line with Tanganga’s departure confirmed.

He will become the Lions’ fifth permanent signing of the window, following the captures of Josh Coburn, Massimo Luongo, Max Crocombe, Alfie Doughty and Zak Sturge.

Tanganga started two of Millwall’s opening three Championship games, but missed the most recent game against his new club, the Blades, so there is an immediate starting XI spot there for Taylor to come in and battle for.

Sheffield United and West Brom pieces fell into place for Millwall move

It may not have made sense to sign Taylor with Tanganga still at the club, but his move to Bramall Lane opened the path for the deal.

According to Marsh, the Blades paid “significantly more” than the £1.2m release clause in Tanganga’s contract, which was a price only available to Premier League clubs.

The Lions were also helped by the Baggies’ move for Mepham, which the same report confirms is set to be completed, providing the cover needed for Taylor’s move.

With West Brom happy to let him leave, and Millwall with a squad place going and cash in their back pocket, everything was where it needed to be to get this done quickly.

Millwall have taken an educated gamble on Caleb Taylor

At 22 years old, Taylor is by no means the finished product, with just four Championship games to his name so far.

But he has 45 appearances for Cheltenham Town in League One on his CV from a few seasons ago, and has just come off the back of another 36-outing campaign in the third tier with Wycombe Wanderers, playing a key role in the club’s race to the play-offs.

It is clear, therefore, that Taylor is ready for senior football and has been for some time, with his wealth of appearances in League One, in defence, at such a young age, suggesting that he is also ready for a jump in division.

The man he’s replacing, Tanganga, arrived at the Den with much sparser first-team experience, and the club have managed to transform him into a top Championship player.