Millwall and Middlesbrough will face off in the upcoming Championship campaign, but before that, the two clubs are going head-to-head in the transfer window.

Both Millwall and Middlesbrough impressed in the last Championship season, but unfortunately for the two clubs, they missed out on a top-six finish.

Within the post-season summer transfer window, both clubs were mentioned in the same headlines with a seven-figure fee, when Josh Coburn left Boro for Millwall in a club-record deal.

At Boro, the first recruit of the Rob Edwards era came in last week as Middlesbrough signed Alfie Jones from Hull City.

Now, Alex Neil’s Lions are reportedly “in talks” to hijack a move and beat Boro for Edwards’ “dream signing”.

Millwall ‘in talks’ to sign Alfie Doughty ahead of Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough fans reacted to Jones’ signing with unified elation, and would likely express similar joy if the Boro transfer team sign Alfie Doughty from Luton

Doughty to Middlesbrough was mooted earlier in the window, and on Friday, EFL Analysis revealed, thanks to information from our Chief Football correspondent, Graeme Bailey, that Middlesbrough will keep pushing to sign Doughty.

The Luton left wing-back, who Bailey informed is Edwards’ “dream signing for Boro”, is in high demand for a Championship return after the Hatters’ relegation to League One.

Millwall are reportedly trying to beat Boro to sign the 25-year-old. Mirror football reporter Dan Marsh said on X: “Millwall working on a deal for Alfie Doughty.

Statistic	Alfie Doughty last season
Games played	26
Goals + Assists	1 + 4
Chances created	62
Successful crosses	95
Recoveries	134

Alfie Doughty’s full-back statistics for Luton Town last season, data from Fotmob“25yo left wing-back/winger has been subject of transfer interest elsewhere + Millwall now in talks with Luton Town to bring him to The Den. Work to do still + nothing agreed as of yet.”

Doughty was a mainstay in Edwards’ promotion-winning Luton side, and held his own comfortably in the Hatters’ ill-fated Premier League campaign, registering ten goal contributions in 37 top flight appearances.

Therefore, the newly appointed Boro boss can ill afford to let a Championship rival win the race for the full-back’s signature.

Rob Edwards must not miss out on signing Alfie Doughty at Middlesbrough

Given the ambitions of promotion for both clubs, Doughty has a difficult decision to make regarding his footballing future following his three-season stint at Kenilworth Road.

Boro were last in the top flight several seasons ago, and a return to work under the head coach who helped him become a Premier League player would be an exciting proposition for Doughty.

Millwall surprised many second tier supporters with their late push for a play-off place, and after the club’s stellar summer window business under Neil’s stewardship, the Lions would also be a promising destination for the marauding full-back.

Doughty has a penchant for the spectacular, and after Edwards’ style of play at Boro was questioned by one Championship expert, his acquisition would be the perfect addition for the new Middlesbrough boss given his close relationship with Edwards at Luton.

The full-back has a proven track record at Championship level, the ability to fit Edwards’ three-back system like a glove, and he has the capacity to improve further given he’s only 25-years-old.

All of these factors cement why Boro can ill-afford to allow Edwards’ “dream” target to join, and vastly improve, a league rival in Millwall, who Middlesbrough should be directly competing with for a top-six finish next season in what could be the best Championship season yet.

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