Millwall head coach Alex Neil is close to bringing Zak Sturge back to the club.placeholder image
Millwall head coach Alex Neil is close to bringing Zak Sturge back to the club. | Getty Images
QPR confirm a new contract deal and Millwall push for a Premier League coup in your Friday Championship round-up.
The 20-year-old spent the back end of the Championship campaign on loan at The Den and impressed over his five league matches. Sturge was one of the loan players, alongside Josh Coburn, Ryan Wintle and Calum Scanlon, to leave the club at the end of the campaign.
However, it appears that the former Brighton man could be on his way back to Millwall. Sturge is unlikely to work his way into Enzo Maresca’s first team plans any time soon and his contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire next season.
Millwall in ‘advanced talks’ with Chelsea
The Lions are keen to sign Sturge this summer rather than wait 12 months for a free transfer. Journalist Nizaar Kinsella this week claimed that a deal is progressing well. He said: “Millwall are in advanced talks to keep Chelsea defender Zak Sturge at the club on a permanent basis. All parties are expect a positive outcome soon. Sturge, who joined in 2023 from Brighton, will see his contract expire in 2026.”
Sturge was praised by Millwall head coach Neil when making his debut. Neil told Southwark News: "He did well. There were just a couple of times, obviously he’s really eager, he sort of pops that ball and runs beyond it before we secured it. So a couple of little bits to improve on.
"I thought he was competitive in the air. I thought you could see he’s athletic, handles the ball well. There’s nothing better when you’re a young lad that’s come in, got on the pitch and your team wins 1-0 right at the death so he’ll be delighted with that."
Sturge has never made an appearance for Chelsea and is a former England under-18 international. He spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan at Peterborough United before being recalled by Chelsea in the January having made just five appearances.
QPR confirm Joe Walsh contract extension
Meanwhile, on the other side of London, QPR have confirmed a contract breakthrough with a first team star. Highly-rated goalkeeper Joe Walsh has extended his stay at Loftus Road.
The 23-year-old has played second choice to Paul Nardi and, previously, Asmir Begovic in recent seasons but is thought to be a future number one. Walsh joined QPR from Gillingham in 2021 and had already signed a new contract last summer.
On agreeing a new deal, he told the QPR website: "I had a meeting with Christian (Nourry, CEO) and Sparksy (Andrew Sparkes, head of goalkeeping) and I was chuffed to hear about this. I've been here for four-and-a-half years now and I'm really looking forward to what's ahead.
"I obviously want to play games. I stayed as a number two last season and I knew that quite early on in the summer. I learned so much mentally and about myself last year, how to just keep going. You could play one game (as a number two), or you could play 30. You just have to be ready. You have to take every day as it comes and try to better yourself - whether that be out on the pitch or in the gym. But I want to play games of football. I want to experience that week in, week out.
"The Sunderland game (QPR's final fixture of the 2024/25 season) was such an amazing feeling when the full-time whistle went. I was so happy. It was nice to get a clean sheet but obviously that's not just down to me, that's down to the rest of the lads as well. I remember Rayan Kolli sprinting back and slide-tackling someone. He said to me afterwards, 'Oi Walshy, that was for you! I needed you to get that clean sheet.’
"It was just such a great feeling. I want to have that every week because I feel like I'm at a stage now where that's the next step. By playing games, I'll learn more. That's my goal."
In other news, QPR fight Watford to sign 'vocal' defender as Charlton Athletic 'top talent' close to Premier League move.
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