Millwall manager Gary Rowett has admitted that he is hoping to see Zak Lovelace commit his future to the club this summer.
The Lions have offered the forward the chance to sign a full-time professional deal ahead of the transfer window which is set to open in June.
Millwall will be entitled to a compensation fee for Lovelace if he ends up securing a move to another side due to the fact that he is still a teenager.
Lovelace made his debut for the Lions last December as he was brought on as a substitute in the club's clash with Coventry City.
The forward went on to feature on three further occasions in the Championship during the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.
After finishing this particular campaign six points adrift of the play-off places in the second-tier, Millwall will be hoping to continue to progress as a club under the guidance of Rowett later this year.
Making reference to Lovelace, Rowett has shared an update on the 16-year-old's current situation at Millwall.
Speaking to London News Online about the forward, the Lions boss said: "The club have made it clear that we would love Zak to be part of what we do next year and on a full-time basis.
"That's our aim.
"Fitzy [Scott Fitzgerald] in the academy has worked for so many years to bring the best young players through and you want to see the start coming through to the first team.
"There is an inevitability, unfortunately, that some of your better young players get poached by other clubs.
"To a certain degree those fees are a little bit out of your hands.
"Zak is one of those, a lad who has had a bit of interest.
"He'll be getting different advice and all we can do is show how much we want him here and then see what happens.
"I don't think he has got to make a decision now, I think someone would have to be interested and essentially pay compensation for him.
"I really like him, he's a young player I really want to see in our first team."
The Verdict
It will be interesting to see what decision Lovelace makes in terms of his future this summer as Millwall are clearly keen to keep him at the club.
Providing that the Lions are able to finalise an agreement with the forward over a new deal, it could be argued that sending him out on loan to a team in a lower division may help with his development.
By featuring regularly at senior level, Lovelace will gain some much-needed experience before returning to The Den.
Regardless of whether Lovelace stays or leaves the club, Millwall will need to bolster their options up-front in the coming months due to the fact that they are set to wave goodbye to loanees Benik Afobe and Oliver Burke.