In your Friday Championship round-up, QPR confirm a new contract deal, and Millwall aim for a Premier League coup.
Millwall are in ‘advanced talks’ with Premier League club Chelsea about a permanent transfer of defender Zak Sturge this summer.
The 20-year-old spent the latter part of the Championship season on loan at The Den and impressed in five league games. Sturge was one of several loan players that left the club at the end of the season, including Josh Coburn, Ryan Wintle, and Calum Scanlon.
However, it appears that the former Brighton player may be on his way back to Millwall. Sturge is unlikely to make it into Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans anytime soon, and his contract at Chelsea is set to expire next season.
Millwall is in ‘advanced talks’ with Chelsea.
The Lions want to sign Sturge this summer rather than wait 12 months for a free transfer. Nizaar Kinsella, a journalist, stated last week that negotiations are proceeding smoothly. He revealed that Millwall is in advanced talks to retain Chelsea defender Zak Sturge on a permanent basis.
All parties anticipate a satisfactory outcome soon. Sturge, who joined in 2023 from Brighton, will see his contract expire in 2026.”
Neil, Millwall’s head coach, congratulated Sturge on his debut. Neil told Southwark News, “He did well.” There were only a few times when he sort of popped the ball and ran beyond it before we secured it, indicating that he was quite eager. So there are a few minor improvements to make.
“I believed he was competitive in the air. I felt you could see he was athletic and handled the ball effectively. There’s nothing better than coming in as a young player, getting on the pitch, and your team winning 1-0 right at the end, so he’ll be overjoyed.”
Sturge has never played for Chelsea and is a former England under-18 international. He spent the first half of the 2023/24 season on loan with Peterborough United before being recalled by Chelsea in January after only five appearances.
QPR confirm Joe Walsh’s contract renewal.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of London, QPR have announced a contract agreement with a first-team player. Joe Walsh, a highly rated goalkeeper, has extended his tenure at Loftus Road.
The 23-year-old has played second fiddle to Paul Nardi and, before, Asmir Begovic in recent seasons, but is regarded as a future number one. Walsh joined QPR from Gillingham in 2021, having already signed a new deal last summer.
After agreeing to a new contract, he informed the QPR website: “I had a meeting with Christian (Nourry, CEO) and Sparksy (Andrew Sparkes, head of goalkeeping), and I was overjoyed to hear about this. I’ve been here for four and a half years and am very excited about what is ahead.
“Obviously, I want to play games. Last season, I stayed as a number two, and I knew it early on. Last year, I learnt so much about myself and my mind, as well as how to persevere. You could choose to play one game (as number two) or thirty. You just need to be ready. You have to take each day as it comes and strive to improve yourself, whether on the pitch or in the gym. But I want to play football. I want to have that experience every week.
“When the full-time whistle blew during the Sunderland game (QPR’s final fixture of the 2024/25 season), it was an incredible experience. I was quite thrilled. It was good to have a clean sheet, but it wasn’t just down to me; the rest of the players contributed as well.
I recall Rayan Kolli rushing back and slide-tackling someone. He stated to me later, ‘Oi Walshy, that was for you! I needed you to get the clean sheet. “It was such a wonderful sensation. I want to have that every week because I believe it is the next step. Playing games will help me learn more. “That is my goal.”
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