Michael Ihiekwe's thoughts on a new Rotherham United deal

The in-form centre-half's contract expires at the end of the season and the Millers are putting an offer on the table to keep the 26-year-old at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Rotherham have arranged  to meet with Ihiekwe's agent and also with the representative of another player they want to keep, left-back Joe Mattock.

“The gaffer has mentioned it,” said Ihiekwe who has been a League One ever-present for Rotherham this season.

“I'd love to stay here for longer. I've loved my time here, I'm settled and my game is improving.”

The defender joined the Millers from Tranmere Rovers in 2017 and helped them win promotion to the Championship in his first year.

He went on loan to Accrington Stanley at the start of the following season but returned to New York in January to win a regular place in Warne's second-tier starting 11.

“I've had a taste of the Championship and my ambition is to play there again,” Ihiekwe said. “I'd love to do it again with Rotherham.”

Mattock, aged 29, is also out of contract next summer and one of Warne’s top priorities now that all the wheeling and dealing of the summer transfer window is over is to persuade the duo to sign on the dotted line.

“I'm pretty hopeful that will get done sooner rather than later,” he said. “I don't see the point in dragging that out for three months.

“I know Joe hasn't been in the team but I still think he's a really good left-back for us. I've waxed lyrical about Icky for weeks now. He's been virtually faultless.”