Alfie Doughty can complete unlikely double with Millwall after Luton Town switch | OneFootball

The former Luton Town promotion winner has made his switch to Millwall

Millwall were on the cusp of a play-off finish last season under Alex Neil, and the Lions have done all they can to ensure that they'll at least be at that level once more this summer.

Millwall have arguably had one of the best transfer windows so far in the Championship. A few experienced heads have departed, such as George Saville, Murray Wallace and George Honeyman, but many argued that the Lions had outgrown them.

Keeping the likes of Joe Bryan, Femi Azeez and, more importantly, Mihailo Ivanovic, is key to their progression, and Millwall have done well to add players of a similar level in the transfer window.

Josh Coburn showed promise whilst on loan at The Den last season from Middlesbrough, Massimo Luongo has previous success in the Championship with Ipswich Town, and speaking of previous success, Alfie Doughty arrived from Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.

Doughty has been a standout performer for Luton throughout all three seasons at Kenilworth Road, regardless of whether the Hatters were promoted or relegated.

And with the 25-year-old already involved in one unlikely promotion to the Premier League, who is to say that a second one couldn't be completed at The Den?

Alfie Doughty could propel Millwall to the next level

Two seasons ago, Doughty was a standout for Luton in a Premier League campaign, so much so that the likes of Crystal Palace and Brentford were sniffing around to bring him back to the top flight this time last summer.

Not many expected the Hatters to have such a drastically poor return to the Championship, but despite this, Doughty still put in a good account for himself. He wasn't as good as he showed in the Premier League, but no one in that Luton side could say they were.

The 25-year-old played just 26 games in the second tier last season due to an ankle injury, and then a hamstring injury towards the back end of the campaign. Despite this, Doughty still registered an expected assists (xA) of 8.27 and put in 95 successful crosses, the most out of any left-midfielder in the Championship for the whole season, according to Fotmob.

Whilst he didn't provide as much in defence, that was never his strength, and you'd expect any defensive frailties to be masked slightly at Millwall, given that Bryan will retain his position at left-back, allowing Doughty to play more as a midfielder, rather than a wing-back.

The former Luton man has always excelled at chance creation, and for a side whose main gripe is that they don't score enough goals to warrant a place in the top six, the amount that Doughty may create himself next season could see Alex Neil's side finally break into the play-offs.

Millwall could be the next fairytale story in the Championship this season

Millwall have spent just two seasons in the English top flight, from 1988-1990, and the last time they finished in the Championship's top-six was before the second division was called the Championship, way back in the 2001/02 season.

But the Lions have been flirting with a spot in the top six for around eight seasons now, since they were last promoted to the Championship in the 2016/17 campaign.

Millwall have finished inside the top half in six of those eight seasons, with one of those two seeing them finish 13th. They finished three points adrift in 2017/18, two in 2019/20, six in 2021/22, one in 2022/23, and then two again last season.

Alex Neil's side have been on the periphery for almost too long now, and it's only a matter of time before they climb into a play-off place. And whilst the competition has improved from last season, it's clear that Millwall have, too.

Once those play-offs start, anything can happen, and Millwall as a club know what it's like to succeed in that lottery. Perhaps they could become the next side to make that unlikely step into the top-flight and become a 'Premier League' club for the first time.