Millwall would be in a "strong position" to recruit Leeds United midfielder Jamie Shackleton on a permanent deal if he can impress during his loan spell at The Den, according to the South London Press.

The 22-year-old only made 14 league appearances for the Whites during the 2021/22 campaign, finding himself on the fringes of the first team at Elland Road and with this, a loan move away from Yorkshire is set to be sanctioned.

Not only were the Lions interested in luring him away from West Yorkshire - but also league rivals Reading who could still benefit from having at least one more option in the middle of the park in their quest to remain afloat in the Championship once more.

However, the Berkshire side currently find themselves in a sticky situation with their need to abide by an EFL business plan, limiting the amount they can spend on wages with Paul Ince's side unable to compete with many clubs for certain players this summer.

This has potentially enabled Gary Rowett's side to assert themselves as firm favourites to win the race for his signature and this saga looks as though it's finally coming to an end with the midfielder set to undergo a medical today ahead of his loan move being finalised.

Like teammate Cresswell, he is only joining on a temporary spell at this stage but according to the South London Press, they would be in a good position to secure Shackleton for the long term if he manages to impress in the English capital.

The Verdict:

Ideally, the Lions need to limit the number of loanees they bring in this summer in their likely quest to build for the long term, so bringing in someone like Shackleton who has the ability to be a good addition for years to come is a good idea.

Unfortunately, players like Cresswell probably won't be signing on the dotted line permanently but that's not a disaster with the likes of George Honeyman, Zian Flemming and Benik Afobe all signing permanent contracts.

They needed longer-term solutions for the loss of Jed Wallace and with these three men in the door, they can now approach the new season with a bit of confidence and the Leeds midfielder will be a real asset if he can perform up to expectations.

Plying his trade in the top tier last term and becoming accustomed to life at the highest level, it shouldn't take him too long to shine in the second tier and this is exciting for the London outfit's supporters.

And looking at a potential permanent deal from the player's point of view, he needs to be securing himself as much first-team football at this stage of his career if he wants to fulfil his potential, so making a permanent move away from Elland Road may not be the worst idea next year if they remain afloat in the top flight once more.