Millwall manager Neil Harris has said the offer received for George Saville was too good to turn down as the midfielder completed a loan deadline day move to Middlesbrough.

Speaking to NewsAtDen after the defeat to Swansea at the weekend, the Lions boss said the money for the 25-year-old was “ridiculous” and once the player’s head was turned, he had to go.

Middlesbrough completed an initial loan for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man with an obligation to buy the player in January for a fee reported to be in the region of £8million - a club record for the London side when selling a player.

There was transfer deadline day interest in the former Lions man before the move was completed on the second attempt.

Speaking after the deal had been completed, Harris told the media: “From a business perspective George had to go.

“The amount of money that was offered is ridiculous, from a business perspective, yes, good business from us.

“As a manager, of course, I’d love to have kept George, he did fantastically well for me. But once a player’s head’s turned and wants to leave, it’s difficult to keep somebody. [I have] No complaints about that.

“Expectations have risen at our football club after how we overachieved last year. We have to be realistic about where we are. We are in the bottom three teams budget-wise and what we can pay individuals.

“If players get the chance to move on, we have to secure the best deal for our football club, and we certainly did that.”

The Verdict

George Saville was a big part of the Millwall side that finished eighth in the Championship last season but having signed him from Wolves for a pittance; the reported £8million is a fee not many Lions supporter would have rejected themselves.

Every player has their price, and that amount of money is a ludicrous amount for a club the size of Millwall.

As Harris mentioned, when a player wants to go, let him. No one man is bigger than the club.

And to keep a player who wants out would be disharmonious to the current dressing room.

While it is a blow, the Lions have banked a sizeable profit after one season, and have bought in a replacement who could be equally as good, if not better once he finds form and regular football in Ryan Leonard.

With the number of midfielders that Middlesbrough have, Saville could find game time limited at the Riverside compared to what he was used to when playing at The Den club.