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Millwall Boss Planning for Bialkowski Worst-Case Scenario
Thursday, 14th Nov 2019 09:31

Millwall boss Gary Rowett is hoping Town don’t look to sell keeper on-loan keeper Bartosz Bialkowski to another club in January but says he has to plan for the “worst-case scenario” in any position.

Bialkowski joined Millwall on a season-long loan in July, a permanent £900,000 move having broken down the previous month due to concerns regarding the Polish international’s knee.

The 32-year-old has quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite at the Den with a string of impressive performances leading to fears that other clubs could show interest in January when the Blues would be able to break the loan and accept offers from elsewhere.

If that were to be the case, Millwall themselves would presumably look to secure Bialkowski on a permanent basis but might well find themselves financially outgunned.

Bialkowski, who signed lucrative new terms almost certainly making him the Blues' highest-paid player in July 2018, is contracted until the summer of 2021 with Town having an option for a further season.

“I’ve spoken to the club about one or two things but I don’t know the precise details of the agreement,” Millwall manager Rowett told News at Den.

“He’s a player that has done really well for us so far, he’s made some really important saves. The aim moving forward would be that he doesn’t have to make quite so many important saves. That would be our ideal plan, defensively.

“But I think as in any position you plan for the worst-case scenario which is making sure you have options in the building but also making sure you have options in the recruitment market.

“At the moment, until something like that happens, it’s something that we have to plan for but we hope we won’t need to worry about. That’s something I’m sure the club will deal with when the time comes.”


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Lathers added 09:48 - Nov 14
Surely we want to keep Bart and have him as our 1st choice keeper again next season in the Championship? I was always under the impression that he was off our books for the season due to his high wages, but he would be back when we get promotion?
0

blues1 added 09:55 - Nov 14
Leathers. Dont know why you have that opinion. Remember, the only reason hes on loan there, is because a permanent deal fell through, due to him failing the medical. So why would you think it was the plan for him to return? While it could happen, it certainly not a definite plan.
1

Lathers added 10:01 - Nov 14
After the perm deal fell through due to his medical he was with us for the 1st couple of weeks of the season and PL said he might stay. Therefore when it was only a loan the presumption was that he's still our player so we will have him back for next season. Also, we won't get a better keeper than him for the Championship so surely we have to keep him?
1

NorthLondonBlue2 added 10:26 - Nov 14
Odd, really. He was an outstanding keeper for us until last season. He appears to have recovered his form with Millwall.

I think the smart thing to do is to keep him on loan, with a view to taking him back if we're promoted. If we're facing another season in League 1, then we'll need the cash for sure and can sell up in May 2020.
5

Terry_Nutkins added 10:28 - Nov 14
If the opportunity to get a good offer comes in then we will take it and i'll accept that no problem. This was always going to be potential casualty of relegation and Holy has been good. If we did go up I think there would also be a realistic potential to het Norris. Love Bart but if we get a good offer it does make sense given where we are.
1

SamWhiteUK added 10:39 - Nov 14
He's still made some absolute howlers. Worse than when he was with us.
1

TractorCam added 11:02 - Nov 14
Of course the howlers overshadow the 3 times he won player of the season.
4

OsborneOneNil added 11:08 - Nov 14
Sell him to the highest bidder.
3

hampstead_blue added 11:26 - Nov 14
Sounds like Bart is doing well for himself. Good luck to the lad.
Working hard for his next, and probably last, decent contract.
I wish him well.
0

Ipswichbusiness added 12:53 - Nov 14
A good keeper, definitely Championship quality and probably good enough for the lower half of the Premiership.
What we should do with him depends on which league we are in and how the young keepers progress. If we are in the Championship next season (I assume that Norris will return to his club) and the youngsters come on as we hope then we could sell him, raise some money and rely on the younger keepers as back up to Holy. If they don't develop as hoped, then retain him and use Holy as back up.
The other argument is that you should always have the best keeper that you can afford, which would mean retaining him and letting Holy go.
0

Marinersnose added 13:03 - Nov 14
It would make perfect sense to get Bart back if we are promoted. Holy would be a better number two than Gerken but Norris would be an even better acquisition but I suspect he will return to the PL. Ho,y is a fantastic character but not quick enough off his line to be a number 1.
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:14 - Nov 14
I love Bart, but I'm pretty sure we'll sell if the right offer comes along. We could do worse than invest the money in a seasoned forward. Holy and Norris are very adequate for now, and if we go up ... well, that's the future. Maybe Holy could cut it in the Championship too.
1

Radlett_blue added 17:31 - Nov 14
If a loan player he performs well, he puts himself in the shop window as we know to our cost. We can now consider trying to sell Bart for a decent sum in January; serve Millwall right for being pernickety over a minor injury which had not been an issue.
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Bert added 17:47 - Nov 14
Bart will be 33 next year and although he may have 5 more years at the level he is at, I doubt that he will return to us. He will have moved on in his head and possibly the club will have done so to.
Great bloke but it rarely works out going back.
3

Cakeman added 19:36 - Nov 14
Let him move on. We need to look forward not back. The two
Keepers we have got with us now are good enough even for the Championship.
1

Pumpee1980 added 13:56 - Nov 23
The form he's been in, definately worth a couple of million
0


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