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‘Certainly’: Manager says he wants to buy ‘outstanding’ Arsenal player, he’s ‘got so much potential’
Millwall want to buy Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard this summer after an impressive loan with the Championship club last season.
According to Millwall manager Gary Rowett said he wants to buy the Northern Ireland international when the window opens tomorrow.
But it would have to be done at the right price, with Millwall’s current record signing standing at £1.2 million, even as the second tier becomes more and more awash with money.
It has been reported that Arsenal are willing to sell Ballard this summer, but Rowett acknowledged that Millwall will not be the only interested club.
Millwall want to buy Ballard
Rowett said: “Would we want to bring Dan Ballard back to the club at a price that we felt was the right price for us? Of course we would.
“But Arsenal have got a young player and they might have different ideas. The point is they may be open to it. We’d certainly be keen if there was an opportunity because he performed so well last year.
“Like any of these deals in the summer, they have to fit around what we want to do. They have to fit around how we see the team developing for next season.
“If they do we can move forward. If they don’t then it’s quite simple, we have to look for other options. Dan’s a really good player, he’s got so much potential and I think a lot of clubs would be keen to bring Dan in next season.”
In terms of loanees coming back to try and challenge for a place in Mikel Arteta’s back four, William Saliba would be far ahead of Ballard in the pecking order.
That is despite Ballard being branded as ‘outstanding’ by Blackpool boss Neil Critchley, who also managed the defender on loan.
He may well be set for another season in the Championship, either on loan or at the start of a new spell with his permanent new club.
Rowett is clearly keen, but it may well be a bidding war if there are many interested clubs as the former Birmingham boss is expecting.