Portsmouth rivals facing huge battle for £20m striker as Swansea City in talks to end £1m Manchester City agreement

The latest international break is now underway, bringing Pompey’s Championship season to a halt once again.

The Blues enjoyed a strong run of form between the two stoppages, losing just two of their eight fixtures since October 11.

Their impressive response to their south-coast derby blow has seen John Mousinho’s troops climb the standings in recent weeks and currently sit two points outside of the play-offs in 11th.

Planning will no doubt be underway behind the scenes at Fratton Park for the January window as Rich Hughes & Co prepare for another hectic market.

Pompey have been linked with Belgian left-back Renzo Tytens as the rumour mill begins to turn before the shutters come off on January 1.

Elsewhere, gossip and speculation is already mounting as clubs across the division earmark potential targets.

Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ Championship rivals.

Newcastle United monitor Middlesbrough man

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘monitoring’ Middlesbrough forward Will Lankshear ahead of the January window.

The striker has had a formidable start at the Riverside Stadium after his big-money switch from Spurs in the summer.

Boro reportedly paid up to £20m to land the 21-year-old’s services in July after an impressive loan stay with relegated Oxford United last term.

Lankshear has been electric in front of goal for Kim Hellberg’s table-topping side, netting 13 goals to date and is currently the Championship’s leading scorer.

His impressive form, however, has sparked interest from higher up the English pyramid, with Newcastle United reportedly keen.

The Sun have revealed the Magpies are keeping tabs of the England youth international ahead of the winter window.

In fact, the report suggested scouts from St James’ Park were due to watch Middlesbrough’s Championship game against Wrexham last week, only for Lankshear to pull out due to injury.

A hamstring issue subsequently ruled the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate out of Saturday’s goalless draw at Watford.

Pompey travel to table-topping Boro on December 19, with Hellberg’s side hopeful of having Lankshear back in the fold.

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Swansea City in talks to end Manchester City stay

Swansea City are in talks with Manchester City to end Jermey Monga’s loan stay prematurely, according to reports.

The Swansea Independent has revealed the Swans are already looking to cut the 17-year-old’s season-long agreement in January.

The report states Vitor Matos’ side have paid a £1m loan fee to the Premier League giants for the winger, who has struggled for game time in South Wales.

Since his deadline day arrival, Monga is yet to register a single minute of action for Swansea and has been named on the bench on just three occasions.

He was an unused substitute for the Swans in their 3-1 defeat to Mousinho’s troops last week but dropped out of their 20-man squad for the loss at Birmingham City on Saturday.

Now, talks are underway to cut his season-long stint prematurely, with Manchester City looking to send the England youth international back out on loan during the second-half of the campaign.

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