Football League World
·1 July 2024
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·1 July 2024
Millwall have made a bid for the Notts County striker, but could he be another Nisbet?
Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff has had an outstanding goal return over the last few seasons.
Langstaff fired the Magpies back to the EFL during the 2022/23 season, and continued his good form in front of goal as the club re-established itself in the fourth tier last season.
The forward could be set for a move to the Championship this summer, having scored 70 goals in 96 appearances for Notts County.
He has never played higher than League Two in his career so far, but is attracting interest from the second tier.
Championship side Millwall have made an offer for Langstaff, according to Football Insider.
Other second tier clubs, including Cardiff City, Preston North End and Swansea City, have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old in recent years, but the Lions are the only known club that have tabled a bid this summer.
Swansea boss Luke Williams worked with the striker at Meadow Lane, with the duo achieving promotion from the National League together, and there has been speculation around whether the Welsh side will make a move to reunite the pair.
Millwall head coach Neil Harris spoke to London News Online after it was reported that they had bid for Langstaff.
"I'm fully aware of what has been written in the press and leaked online. But I am not prepared to talk about other club's players in detail," Harris said.
"What I will say is I'm fully aware of the player, having started last season in League Two and seen a lot of the player at the start of the season and watched a lot of National League football the season before. I'm fully aware of his attributes."
Millwallsigned striker Kevin Nisbet from Scottish side Hibernian for £2 million last summer, following his prolific stint in Edinburgh.
There is always a question mark over the quality of Scottish football though and how it translates to the English level, and the 27-year-old Scot did not have the desired impact at The Den last season, scoring just five goals in the Championship during an injury-hit debut campaign.
He made just one substitute appearance after Harris returned and comfortably guided the club to safety in the second tier, and he was axed from the squad towards the end of the campaign for disciplinary issues, which could mean an end to his time in South Bermondsey prematurely.
Millwall will hope that Langstaff - if signed - can adapt to the Championship better than Nisbet was able to, especially as Zian Flemming was their top scorer last season with just eight goals.
The Lions will want to continue their momentum under Harris into next season, but need a striker who can put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.
They signed Lee Gregory from non-league back in 2014, which proved to be an excellent signing, and will hope that bringing Langstaff to the club from a lower division can have a similar effect.
Langstaff signed a new contract with Notts County last summer, keeping him at Meadow Lane until 2027.
The forward also stated his desire to take the club to League One after winning the golden boot in League Two last season, explaining that it would take "something incredible" for him to leave the club this summer. He has also been named captain for the upcoming season.
Despite his lower league record though, you have to wonder if Langstaff will be able to replicate his form at League Two and the National League in such a competitive environment such as the Championship.
There were doubts over whether Nisbet would be able to adapt to the Championship after he arrived from Scotland last summer, and there could be similar doubts over Langstaff's ability to hit the ground running if Millwall manage to pull off the transfer.
However, Langstaff has proven in the last few years that he knows where the goal is, so if the Lions can convince him to sign, and they provide him with the right service next season, he should be a huge success at The Den.