Romain Esse: Crystal Palace must pay ‘significant money’ for Millwall winger

Millwall head coach Alex Neil says the club will receive “significant money” if Romain Esse moves to Crystal Palace during this transfer window.

The 19-year-old signed a new “long-term” contract at The Den in the summer but has been linked with a January move to Selhurst Park.

Neil confirmed the Premier League club’s interest in signing the winger this month.

A source told BBC Sport Esse’s new contract includes a release clause which would need to be met for the attacker to leave the club this month.

Speaking before Millwall’s FA Cup third-round tie against Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday, Neil said the club wanted to keep hold of their best players.

“At the moment, there’s interest from Crystal Palace, which has been well-documented. How far down the line that is, I’m not sure,” he told BBC Radio London.

“But I think people need to recognise how well we as a club have done by securing Romain on a new contract which took, by all accounts, a bit of convincing to stay because he wanted to play football.

“He is now playing football, he’s certainly been one of our best performers this season. We don’t want to lose any of our best players but I think everybody understands the contract situation around Romain.

“If he does move, he’ll move for significant money, which from the club’s perspective will be brilliant business considering we could have lost him in the summer for free.”