Lennon Miller has left - so what now for Motherwell?
The Scotland midfielder's exit to Udinese has given the club their biggest sale - a reported £4.75m - so how should the money be best utilised?
Will it safeguard the club's future? Should it fund a training ground? And what about improving the squad?
Udinese paid Motherwell £4.7m, plus add-ons, for 18-year-old Scotland midfielder Lennon Miller and have also inserted a sell-on clause in the move, with the fee setting a new record - surpassing the £3.25m Well secured from Celtic for David Turnbull in 2020. (Anthony Joseph on X), external
Image source, SNSLennon Miller says Motherwell "has a big place in my heart" as the 18-year-old issued a farewell message of gratitude to the club and supporters.
Midfielder Miller's move to Udinese for a reported fee of £4.75m makes him the club's record sale, eclipsing David Turnbull's switch to Celtic five years ago.
"Motherwell is all I've ever known," Miller told the Fir Park club's website.
"It's been my home since I was a young boy and I've achieved my dream of playing in the first team, playing in the big stadiums and wearing the armband.
"My thanks goes to all the supporters for taking me in. The support up and down the country every week has been exceptional. For all the coaches I've worked under and who have helped me improve as a player and as a man, thank you. I simply wouldn't be here without their guidance and support.
"To all the players who I've played alongside with, and for all the kind words they've said about me, thank you. My team-mates have helped me through everything and allowed me to play with freedom.
"I want to also express my appreciation to all the staff behind the scenes at the club. Some are still there, some have moved on, but they all work so hard to keep the place going. You may not see first-hand the hard work and sacrifices they make, but having been in the building all these years, I can't thank them enough for everything they do.
"This is a new chapter in my life, and I move on filled with excitement. I may not be at Fir Park to cheer on the boys, but I'll be watching and following from afar. The club has a big place in my heart and I will always be grateful. I wish all the lads the best for the rest of the season.
"Mon the Well."
Image source, SNSWe asked for your views on Lennon Miller, who has now completed his move to Udinese to earn Motherwell a club record fee.
Here's what some of you said:
Stuart: I am delighted to see Lennon spread his wings and move abroad. Italy has proven to be a positive place for several Scots. Also delighted he's not moved to either Old Firm.
Colin: Fantastic move for Miller. Playing in Serie A can only benefit his progression as I believe he will still play a lot of first-team football. He's a massive talent and with the right move at this stage in his career it can only benefit him and the Scotland national team. Wish him every success.
KP: Although sorry to see Lennon go I wish him all the best. He has been a real asset to the club. He is an outstanding player with an instinctive talent for football and it has been a joy to watch him play. Hopefully, he will continue to blossom at his new club and the Scotland squad. Good luck!
Gary: It's a great move for the lad, he follows great Scottish talent heading out to play in Serie A and will grow as a player. Glad the saga is over from a Motherwell perspective, we can now look to invest the funds back into giving Jens Berthel Askou attacking options. Top six is back on!
Ross: Miller is a fantastic talent and will go far in the game if he keeps his head down and concentrates on his football. It's also clear to me that he has a supportive family behind him with experience that will help him. I'm happy for him to make a move up the ladder so long as his value is met and the club benefits financially.
Ricky: Miller has been a godsend to Motherwell and we will miss his presence around Fir Park. He's been class since the moment he played and was amazing with my children as well, always happy for photos and autographs and the fame never bothered him, he just wanted to play football. So gutted he is going but great to see him progress in his career. Thank you Lennon.
Image source, SNSLennon Miller isn't just impressive on the pitch. He's a standout on paper too.
The Motherwell midfielder looks destined for a big-money move to Italian club Udinese after flying out to Italy on Monday.
Miller, 18, is a dream data-driven transfer target, says former Premiership striker Rory Loy, who hopes the 18-year-old can be the latest Serie A Scottish success after the likes of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson.
"In the modern game with data and analytics and the way people try and recruit players, it's almost tick box rather than actually watching them, and Lennon Miller must tick every single box and every single person's sheet," said Loy on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"He's very young, he's 18 years old, he's played over 70 first-team games in the middle of the pitch, he's a good height, so I'm not surprised there's been so much interest in him and he's technically very gifted as well.
"I spoke to Lee, his dad, at a Scotland Under-21s game last year against France at the Falkirk Stadium. I got the impression that going abroad would have been Lennon's first choice.
"It doesn't surprise me that he's on a plane out to Udinese. I would imagine that deal will get done at some point and hopefully he can go and have the impact on Serie A which our other Scottish players have had in recent years."
Jenna Thomson
Fan writer
After a point secured at St Mirren we are in a stable position - and still undefeated under Jens Berthel Askou.
With the Paisley stalemate the first of three road trips in succession, I was pondering what makes the perfect away day.
Personally, I prefer a journey that can be done fairly conveniently rather than what feels like a trip you'd make to go on holiday. For example, the SMISA is a half-four train ride from Motherwell, whereas Pittodrie is a four-hour journey.
I have visited a few different stadiums and the most enjoyable away days have been St Mirren, Raith Rovers and Hamilton's New Douglas Park.
The results don't aren't a make or break factor since I have yet to see Motherwell win at the SMISA or at Stark's Park. The memories made and people met at these games are why they are some of my most enjoyable times following the Steelmen. The pies were also not half bad.
I have secured my ticket and bus seat for St Johnstone away in the League Cup this weekend and will be trying to get to Tynecastle the following Saturday too. Both are trips I haven't made before and with luck, we will still be unbeaten.
Udinese have agreed a £4.3m fee, inclusive of add-ons, with Motherwell for Lennon Miller, with the 18-year-old Scotland midfielder expected to undergo a medical with the Serie A club on Tuesday. (Sky Sports), external
Ipswich Town failed in a bid to sign Lennon Miller, with the 18-year-old Scotland midfielder preferring to join Udinese after the Serie A club agreed a £4.75m fee with Motherwell. (Scottish Sun), external
Scotland midfielder Lennon Miller has left Glasgow Airport for Italy, where the Motherwell 18-year-old is reportedly to undergo a medical with Udinese.
'Well fans, what do you make of the move? Are you disappointed to see him go or happy the club will bank a fee for him? What did you make of his time at Fir Park?
Do you expect him to flourish on the continent like many other Scots have recently?
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Calum Ward - Motherwell: Kept a clean sheet, and Sportscene icon Archie Macpherson waxed lyrical about him. That will do for me.
Udinese are pursuing a £4.5m deal to take Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller to Serie A having had a £2.5m offer rejected for the 18-year-old Scotland international in January. (The Herald), external
Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSLennon Miller has not been playing for Motherwell amid transfer speculation
Scottish Premiership Highlights: St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell
Watch highlights of St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSMotherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou admitted he made a late call on Lennon Miller's omission from the squad that played out a goalless draw with St Mirren on Saturday.
The 18-year-old has missed the start of the season with an injury picked up in a pre-season friendly against Carlisle.
"Yes, it was a final call with everything taken into consideration," Askou said. "It's not a secret that there are things going on in the background. We know he's been out for four weeks.
"How much risk are you willing to take on a player like him in that situation? The decision was that we kept him out of it."
The teenager, who won his first Scotland caps at the end of last season, is widely expected to leave Motherwell this summer with plenty of clubs fighting for his signature.
"No, there's nothing I can tell," said Askou when asked for an update on Miller's seemingly imminent departure.
"I've been busy with the game today so I haven't really heard any updates since early this morning."
Another player who might miss the next game is right-back Johnny Koutroumbis, who has enjoyed a good start to the season, but went off with an injury in the first half in Paisley.
"We'll have to assess him tomorrow (Sunday)," said Askou. "I hope it's not too bad. He was not on a stretcher. He was walking and seemed OK but we'll have to assess that when we get back."
We asked for you views on Motherwell's 0-0 draw against St Mirren.
Here's what some of you said:
Ian: Motherwell were a good watch today but I worry about Calum Ward making preventable mistakes in and around his own area.
What was he thinking passing a lackadaisical ball to a St Mirren player just outside his box, almost giving them a golden opportunity to score? It's not the first time in recent weeks he has made strange decisions.
Wullie: Motherwell starting another season playing some very good football yet again. Will this be the season they keep it going? Or will poor results dictate and they revert to long ball directness as usual?
St Mirren and Motherwell failed to adapt to blustery conditions as the sides played out a goalless Scottish Premiership draw in Paisley.
St Mirren 0-0 Motherwell - Askou post-match
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou told BBC Scotland: "We did amazing, the two centre-backs were outstanding, totally cancelled their game and it felt like we won almost every second ball in the game. A big performance.
"We know we have to be more effective and some of the opportunities we had. We had not many - a few - they also had a few, mainly on set pieces and a few shots from distance which Calum dealt with perfectly.
"But we played some really good football at times in difficult conditions. The pitch is actually really, really good but obviously it was dry in the first half and a lot of wind from all sorts of directions so there were some odd situations now and then when the ball went up in the air that were hard to judge.
"But I think, again, fantastic performance, fantastic support, 900 Motherwell fans coming here and supporting us."
On struggles in front of goal: "I wouldn't call it a lack of creativity, I thought we tried different stuff but also we have to give credit to St Mirren as well. It's a team that's been in top six the last two years and you saw last time against Celtic that they also had difficulty in opening them up.
"It's a team that's going to be very hard to beat, they're well organised, they're good one against one, they have a fantastic defensive mindset and so we knew it was going to be difficult to get the chances, to play the chances really big.
"We tried our best and we know we need to improve in that phase and get even sharper, and had we been a little bit sharper in a few of these situations today, we could also have decided the game and made it tip our way. We'll keep working on that of course."
Image source, SNSSaints hope to include Keanu Baccus if work permit issues are finalised while James Scott and Alex Iacovitti have both moved to Ross County.
Winger Malik Dijksteel is doubtful through illness while Liam Donnelly (Achilles) remains out.
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is optimistic Liam Gordon will shake off the injury that forced him off against Rangers.
In-demand Lennon Miller has trained all week while Jordan McGhee (thigh), Sam Nicholson (knee) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) are out.
Image source, SNSMotherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is giving his players the necessary "freedom" on the park to "excel", says defender Emmanuel Longelo.
The left-back arrived from Birmingham on a two-year deal and has scored twice in his first four appearances, notably a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw with Rangers in last weekend's league opener.
"From the moment I spoke to him, I already knew this is the environment I wanted to be in," said the 24-year-old.
"He has just told me to be myself, giving me that freedom to express myself on the pitch and just play with a smile.
"That's definitely something I want to hear because I feel like I have attributes that can help the team progress. And also, I like to show what I'm good at.
"I feel like every player will want to hear that. When I spoke to the manager, I heard everything I wanted to hear. He just made it a place where you want to come play and excel. I've just got to repay him for the faith he's had in me.
"I feel like this way is the correct way to play football. Every day we're just buying into what the manager wants us to do, and so far it's going well".
St Mirren are up next for Motherwell in Paisley on Saturday, a game which boss Askou has suggested may require a tweak to the system.
The former Gothenburg manager said: "It is going to be a very different type of football game, because we face an opponent who has some very different strengths and a different approach to Rangers, which will give us some other challenges.
"Which means we've tried to prepare that while still focusing on ourselves and the way we want to approach the game and how to get the game as much as possible on our terms.
"We know there are going to be moments where we need to fight physically and duel with them, it's hard to take out of a game when you play against St Mirren."
St Mirren have only won two of their past 15 league meetings with Motherwell (D7 L6), and are winless in five (D3 L2) since a 1-0 victory in September 2023.
Motherwell have only lost one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership away games at St Mirren (W5 D4), a 1-0 defeat in January 2023 under Steven Hammell.
St Mirren ended the 2024-25 campaign by going unbeaten in their final five Scottish Premiership home matches (W3 D2), and they have won their opening home fixture in both of the past two seasons: 3-0 vs Hibernian in 2024-25 and 2-1 vs Dundee in 2023-24.
Motherwell have won their opening away game in just one of their past eight Scottish Premiership campaigns (D3 L4), but it was a 1-0 victory at St Mirren in 2022-23.
In Motherwell's 1-1 draw with Rangers on matchday one, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had the most shots (five), the most touches in the opposition's box (nine) and contested the most aerial duels of any player (six).
Image source, SNSMotherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou insists Lennon Miller is looking sharp and preparing to face St Mirren on Saturday amid continued uncertainty over the sought-after midfielder's future.
Miller, 18, attracted bids in January and the summer, with Bologna the favourites to beat the likes of Fiorentina, Udinese and Torino to his signature, according to reports in Italy.
"There's nothing finalised, nothing registered, he's still a Motherwell player and he's preparing for the game on Saturday," said Askou.
"He's got a full week of training under his belt now, which he hasn't had since he had his little injury and his little setback.
"That's positive, so he looks ready, he looks fresh, and he looks sharp, as always. A fantastic football player, so we're happy to have him back on the pitch."
Loan striker Eseosa Sule returned to West Brom for treatment this week and Askou was unable to elaborate on the extent of the 19-year-old's injury issue.
"We're still in a period of assessing exactly how long and what's the specific treatment that he needs. It's a big blow for him and for us," he added.
"I'm very sad on his behalf and on our behalf, because he was looking really good and we were really happy with the progress he's made and the impression he's made here in his first couple of weeks.
"We are one down, who is a specific nine, which means that the guys who are left will have to do the job until he's back. We also have other players who can cover that position."
Image source, SNSMotherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly has joined Championship outfit Airdrieonians on loan for the season.
The 22-year-old made his Motherwell debut in the League Cup this summer and has previously spent time on loan at Gretna, East Kilbride, Stranraer and Falkirk.
Connelly has been backed by Fir Park boss Jens Berthel Askou to return "better, stronger and wiser" next summer.
"Matty has impressed all of us over the summer with his attitude and composure when he got his first minutes for us," said Askou.
"He's been brilliant in training and we have been looking for the best set-up for his continued development, which we have now found in this loan."
