It is a sign of how far Millwall have come by rebuffing late interest for two key players.

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Jed Wallace and George Saville were the subjects of 11th-hour interest from Championship rivals Middlesbrough. 

Bids starting at £6m for the pair were reportedly offered and swiftly rejected by the Lions.

Boro had two offers for the influential pair seen off as the deadline for permanent transfers passed.

In times gone by, the powers that be at The Den would have jumped at the chance to get that sort of money into the club - but not now.

Under current chairman John Berylson, the Lions have had a relatively prosperous period where they have not had to sell their best players.

Under a previous owner, however, a certain Tim Cahill was sold to Everton for £1.5million, even 14 years later, that is a gross miscarriage of economic justice.

But it was snapped up, and the Lions lost out on what could have been a lucrative transfer.

The Lions even accepted an offer from bitter rivals Crystal Palace prior to the move to Goodison Park!

Millwall fans have been told before that the players aren’t for sale only for them to make a quick exit for an even quicker buck.

This time when current boss Neil Harris said it, he meant it - and the supporters believed and trusted one of their own.

It could have been easy heading to the deadline to accept the take-it-or-leave-it offer form the north-east club, but the Lions relented.

Credit goes to the manager and the board for not allowing the best players Millwall have to go on such short notice and for what looked like peanuts too in this current market.

Last season Wallace managed more goals and assists than Jack Grealish at Aston Villa, and look at how much he could have gone for!

There is no way Saville, who scored ten goals from midfield last term is worth what Boro offered, and the same can be said for Wallace.

Both are easily worth at least £9million each, if you compare them with players similar in quality and age.

Clubs think they can target Millwall and they will wilt and accept because of their inferior budget or the fact they are seen known as selling club previously.

Not anymore, not this time.

It goes to show too that advances for Jake Cooper form Rangers were dismissed and rumblings of Sheffield United interest for Lee Gregory was stomped out sharpish.

The Lions have not sold anyone this summer, and it is high time the club adopted a mentality that will not bow down to club’s with financial muscle should interest arise.

Harris will now be able to build his side and further allow them to become a more cohesive unit.

Millwall might be the underdog every season they operate in the Championship, but they are by no means pushovers anymore.