FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - April 25, 2023 Wolverhampton Wanderers fans with flags inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
International Goalkeeper Having Medical With Championship Side
Wolverhampton Wanderers g0alkeeper Matija Sarkic is having a medical at Millwall today after the two clubs agreed a fee of £1.2 million for the player, according to The Telegraph’s John Percy.
Having come through Anderlecht’s academy in Belgium, Sarkic made the move to Aston Villa in 2015 where he spent the next five years of his career
Unfortunately, the Montenegro international failed to make his competitive debut at Villa Park, spending time out on loan at clubs such as Wigan Athletic in League One, Livingston in Scotland, and non-league side Stratford Town.
By the end of the 2019/20 campaign, Sarkic refused a new contract, as he admitted in an interview with Montenegrin outlet Vijesti, and moved to Wolves on a free transfer where he earned further loans to Shrewsbury Town, Birmingham City, and Stoke City.
However, Wolves are now looking to cash in on the 6’4″ goalkeeper despite handing him a three-year contract extension merely 12 months ago.
The Telegraph also reported that Stoke bid for Sarkic earlier in the transfer window but a deal broke down.
Millwall’s goalkeeper department
Gary Rowett has built a very strong goalkeeper department at The Den with shot-stoppers such as Bartosz Białkowski, George Long, and the incoming Sarkic among the ranks.
Białkowski began last season as The Lions’ main man between the sticks but was displaced by Long further into the campaign.
Nonetheless, Rowett is looking to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish and so Sarkic will likely be his new number ‘1’. This could mean one of Białkowski or Long may leave before the transfer window closes.
Millwall takes on Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium this weekend in the opening game week. Should Sarkic complete his medical and put pen to paper tonight, the 26-year-old may be in goal when the London club travels up north on Saturday.
Writer’s View
Sarkic is an excellent signing and is currently a better option between the posts than both Białkowski and Long, automatically making him Millwall’s number ‘1’.
Stoke City was keen to sign the Montenegrin last month but the deal fell through and the Potters brought Irishman Mark Travers to the club on loan instead. Millwall were also interested in signing Travers but will now acquire Sarkic. Football is a funny, old game.
The forthcoming campaign will reveal who made the right call.
