Excited Pompey fans are having to wait patiently for the summer transfer window to open.
More than six weeks have passed since the League One title was secured against Barnsley last month. And while plenty has happened at Fratton Park since those wonderful celebratory scenes, no new signings have arrived to bolster the feel-good factor that has been palpable around PO4 ever since confirmation of the Blues’ new Championship status.
Pompey have stressed no new signings will be announced until after the transfer window opens officially on Friday June 14. That’s still two weeks away, which will seem like forever, especially when a number of clubs have begun announcing new arrivals ahead of the official opening for business.
That, however, gives the Blues plenty of time to quietly go about their business - and to spring a surprise or two come next month. But what are the key transfer issues going into this transfer window? What’s the priorities? What needs to be done and what’s head coach John Mousinho said about the key issues at the centre of the Blues’ transfer plans this summer?
Since the 2023-24 season came to the close, The News has quizzed the Pompey boss on a whole range of issues that will shape the course of this window. Here’s his responses to 20 key factors that will be at play over the coming months.
5. Signing strikers this summer
Mousinho said: 'We’ve got three centre-forwards that we think can compete at the next level. Colby’s scored 40-odds in the past two seasons. Then Kas (Yengi) has come in and had a massive, massive impact at the football club and certainly has the ability to go and play higher. I think Christian, though we haven’t played him as a centre-forward, has had a huge impact, particularly on the second half of the season. At the moment we think we’re pretty well stocked going into the next level. Christian, maybe we see operating more as 10, which possibly opens up the door for another player to come in. At the moment, though, we’re quite happy and it won’t be a priority.’ Photo: Bryn Lennon
6. The search for new right-backs
Mousinho said: 'That is a position we’re certainly going to have to fill with one and potentially with two. It’s one of the positions we’re going to have to be all guns blazing on. It doesn’t really matter to us in terms of experience and whether the players have played at the level before. It’s about whether we think they can play at the level now. I think there’s going to be plenty of options. We’d probably like a balance in terms of the two right-backs, with one being a more steady and defensive type and one being maybe being slightly more attacking. I think we achieved that in both of the full-back positions this season, with Connor and Jack along with Zak and Joe as well. I think that’s something we’ll want to achieve again next season.’ Photo: Jason Brown
7. Joe Morrell
Mousinho said: ‘With Joe, we have decided not to take up the option in his contract, but we don’t want to close the door on that. So it’s down to the football club and Joe to see if there’s something we can do in terms of a contract going forward. It’s out of my hands in terms of negotiations and it would be nice to sort something out with Joe, but, at the same time, we knew the minute we didn’t take his contract up, there are going to be plenty of other clubs in for such a good player. We are realistic, it’s something we have taken on board and we’ve made that decision. Absolutely we’d like him to stay. I don't want to contradict myself because we had the option to definitely keep him in terms of taking the contract, but we have to weigh everything up.’ | National World
8. Zak Swanson
Mousinho said: 'We could have taken the option in Zak’s contract and fully protected ourselves and we’re fully aware of the fact Zak could now speak to other football clubs. The rationale behind the decision is to make sure we have a bit more flexibility in the contract, to offer what we think will work with both parties. That’s what we’ve decided to do with Zak, so that is now with Zak, his agent and the football club and we’ll see how that progresses. The most important thing for Zak is making sure he stays fit, I think everyone knows that. We know Zak has that Championship capability, but we need him fit and ready for 40-plus games.’ | Jason Brown/ProSportsImages