What ex-Liverpool starlet linked with Sheffield United, Sunderland transfer said about his future
Former Liverpool academy product linked with Sheffield United and Sunderland after impressive Preston North End loan spell
Sheffield United have been credited with transfer interest in 24-year-old Canadian international Liam Millar this summer as they look to rebuild their squad following relegation to the Championship. United have already lost 10 players, including their loan contingent and five stalwarts all released, with further departures expected in the wake of their poor season.
Boss Chris Wilder is enthused about leading another big Blades rebuild but will not be handed a blank chequebook by owner Prince Abdullah and will have to largely sell to buy, with loans and free transfers the immediate pond he is fishing in. That could change if big names including Anel Ahmedhodzic and Vini Souza move on, as expected, but the transfer sums are expected to be modest.
Millar is contracted to Swiss side FC Basel for another season but spent this last campaign on loan at Preston in the Championship, impressing with five goals and as many assists in his 36 appearances. North End are keen to sign him on a permanent basis while fellow Championship side Sunderland have also been credited with interest in the Canadian, who moved to England with Fulham and later joined Liverpool’s academy.
Moving back to England with Preston allowed Millar to be nearer to his family in the north-west and prove himself in the second tier. Speaking earlier this year about his future, he admitted he was open to any possibility. "You never know what can happen next season,” Millar said. “I have no idea. We'll have to cross that bridge when I get there.
“I had something to prove, in my opinion, in England. I left Liverpool and I always wanted to come back and prove I was good enough to play in the. Championship. And hopefully, I can prove one day that I'm good enough to play in the Premier League. In Switzerland, it was difficult for me sometimes off the field - with the language and not being near my family.
“My mom, my dad, my brother, my sister. And all that kind of stuff. So, being in England, being back in the northwest where they all live, really helps. I think the stuff off the pitch really carries on to the pitch and it really helps me to play well."
With Millar’s contract at Basel set to enter its final year the Swiss side may be tempted to do business this summer, rather than risk losing him for free at the end of next season. Jamie Hoyland, United’s new lead scout, is a former Preston coach and will likely be well aware of Millar’s performances at Deepdale while, importantly, North End boss Ryan Lowe has already suggested that Millar wouldn’t cost the earth in terms of wages - which will be music to United’s ears if they follow up any interest.
“Liam had a fantastic season for us, which we knew he would,” Lowe said last month, as reported by our sister paper the Lancashire Evening Post. ”He’s a fantastic player. But, all we can do is potentially put our best offer on the table. He knows that we’d love to keep him and I think Basel know we’d like to keep him. It’s easy for us to say we want to keep him, but I think Liam’s type of contract suits into the way we work.
“So, he is affordable, 100 per cent - but it’s whether he’s affordable to buy. I am sure there will be other clubs interested in him, but we have a value and if the value is way above then ultimately, you can’t do anything about it. But, Liam has loved his time here, wants to stay here - has said he’d love to stay - but it’s whether we can thrash a deal out with his parent club.”