A right-back whose stats rank among the best in League One - a look at impending Portsmouth arrival Callum Johnson

And, to his credit, the Blues' chief executive has shown so far that his words were neither hyperbole nor balderdash.

Callum Johnson is closing in on a move to Fratton Park for a fee of around £200,000.

And the Accrington defender's impending arrival has caused excitement among the Fratton faithful.

While right-back might not be a position that is a major concern – recruiting a left-sided centre-back and creative midfielder are generally deemed more important – Johnson's someone, on paper, who should bolster the Blues' chances of League One promotion.

The fee looks more than reasonable for a player with more than 100 Football League appearances under his belt and a League Two winners' medal to boot at the age of 23.

He’s also been the subject of interest from Championship side Preston in the past.

Arriving from Stanley, you'd imagine Johnson's wages won't send Pompey's salary cap planning off-kilter too much, either.

What's more, he's of an age where he will have a resale value if he thrives on the south coast.

Over the past two seasons, Johnson's underlined he's one of the best right-sided defenders in League One.

During Accy's maiden season back in the third tier in 2018-19, the ex-Middlesbrough man seamlessly made the grade.

In total, he won 481 defensive duals which, according to Wyscout, was than any other player in the division.

During Pompey's 1-1 draw at the Wham Stadium, Johnson nullified the threat of Ronan Curtis in what was a fascinating and fiery 90-minute skirmish.

The Yarm-born ace was again solid throughout last season. He won 338 of his defensive duels, albeit having played seven fewer games, which ranked him third in the league.

But it's going forward where the Blues will be hopeful Johnson will be most effective.

When Kenny Jackett's style of football has been scrutinised after suffering play-off defeat to Oxford, he's said he feels Pompey are a crossing team and at their apogee when they get that aspect of their game right.

That's a quality of Johnson's that has been so eye-catching

During 2018-19, he whipped in 171 crosses – the sixth highest of any player in the division.

And before the curtailment of last term, he sent 107 deliveries into the box.

Of course, it's not a certainty Johnson will come in and make the right-back spot his own.

James Bolton won't be prepared to give up his starting berth after an encouraging maiden season on the south coast.

Yet both give Jackett different options depending on the opponent Pompey are facing.

When the Blues are travelling to a promotion rival with a potent attack then Bolton's defensive solidity could be the man who gets the nod.

But when playing teams who set up to be on the back foot at Fratton then Johnson's verve and creativity sallying out of defence can be a key attribute.

With Ross McCrorie's loan spell expiring at the end of last term, the Blues lost a right-back who could foray out from the back with pace and begin a swift attack.

With McCrorie being converted to a full-back from his favoured central-midfield role, the caveat was he'd sometimes get caught out of position – as what happened for Oxford's goal in the first leg of the play-offs.

But Johnson's been playing there for the majority of his career and is more positionally astute than the now-Aberdeen man.

At Accrington, Johnson forged a sound partnership with Jordan Clark down the right flank.

He’ll be hoping to build a similar rapport with Marcus Harness and Ryan Williams at Pompey – and end the campaign with a second promotion on his C.V.

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