How Portsmouth's pursuit of Millwall midfielder Ben Thompson stands ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline
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That is the verdict of chief sports writer Neil Allen, speaking on the latest episode of Pompey Talk, which can be downloaded here.
Thompson remains the Blues’ number-one target ahead of tomorrow’s 5pm deadline.
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Hide AdKenny Jackett has admitted the Millwall midfielder returning to PO4 is unlikely, after a scintillating loan spell during the first half of the 2018-19 season which yielded three goals in 27 games.
Meanwhile, Lions counterpart Gary Rowett has said there are no imminent plans to send the 25-year-old out.
Allen feels that situation could change before the window slams shut.
But he wonders whether Thompson will want to step back down to League One, having already proven himself at the level and become a Championship player since.
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Hide AdSpeaking on Pompey Talk, Allen said: ‘On Saturday, Kenny Jackett said it’s very unlikely. That is the case, it is very unlikely but not impossible.
‘Things can change, players can come and go from different clubs but it's a difficult one for Pompey for obvious reasons; finances, different divisions, player ambition.
‘Players have a say in this. Ben Thompson will have a say where he wants to play football.
‘When he came to Pompey two years ago, he'd barely played Championship football.
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Hide Ad‘He came to Pompey to get minutes and try to get back into the team at Millwall. He played so well that he went back to Millwall six months early, got back into the team and earned a new contract.
‘A new contract at Championship level means his pay would have gone up considerably.
‘I always remember what Jed Wallace said to me a few years ago about potentially coming back to Pompey one day.
‘If you're not getting game at Wolves, like Jed Wallace wasn't at the time, if you come back to Pompey to get football then if you don’t do well then where's your next stage?
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Hide Ad‘Players have to be careful. Thompson will consider himself a Championship player. Surely he will be looking at a move to the Championship.’
Download the latest Pompey Talk here or watch on the video attached.