Millwall have been linked with a move for Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery. 

Football Insider reported yesterday that the Lions were in advanced talks over a move for the Northern Irishman.

However, The Gazette has indicated that an offer from an unnamed side has been rejected for the 23-year-old.

We've taken a closer look at Lavery to assess whether it would be a good potential move for the Championship club, if he would start, and what he offers.

Is it a good potential move?

I like the look of this move, it has to be said. Millwall could do with adding another senior option up top and Lavery – a player we've seen score goals in the division – would fill that gap.

Still just 23, the Northern Ireland international would be one for the future as well as a solution for the 2022/23 campaign.

The issue for the Lions is going to be prizing him away from Bloomfield Road, with Matt Scrafton from The Gazette reporting that the bid was "killed in the water as quickly as it came about" with the club in no position to sell strikers due to injuries.

Would he start?

He could do given Millwall's current injury issues.

Benik Afobe is clearly the Lions' first choice but the injuries to the likes of George Honeyman and Zian Flemming means they've lined up with two out-and-out strikers rather than one number nine and two wide forwards/number 10s.

When Tom Bradshaw is fit, the 30-year-old may well be ahead of him in the pecking order but you have to feel Shayne Lavery would have a great chance of starting given the current options available to Rowett.

Likewise, if he can rediscover the scoring form he showed early in last season he would be a hard man for the manager to drop.

What does he offer?

The key thing is that Lavery would provide Millwall with another senior option in the forward line, which is something he needs given Afobe, Bradshaw, and Bennett's injury records.

A willing runner, the former Linfield striker's work ethic should mean he fits the way that Rowett likes his forwards to play out of possession and while he's a fairly diminutive forward, he's not one to shy away from the physical battle.

He can run in behind off the shoulder of the defender but is most dangerous inside the box, where his movement and ability to finish off both feet can make him a real nuisance.

When he's in form, Lavery can be lethal in front of goal – as his run of seven goals in 14 games from the early part of last season indicate – but he's not proven himself to be a consistent scorer at Championship level yet.