Coventry City boss Frank Lampard makes transfer admission over Portsmouth summer target as Wrexham eye £17m talent
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey and their Championship rivals.
Pompey are back in action on Wednesday as they make the long-midweek trip to face Sheffield United.
The Blues picked up a much-needed win against Millwall on Saturday to move them up to 19th, while Chris Wilder’s side claimed a 3-0 triumph over Sheffield Wednesday.
Despite a full-midweek round of fixtures in the Championship, there is plenty of transfer gossip and speculation doing the rounds as preparations continue for the upcoming January window, which is just over a month away.
Here are the latest headlines involving Pompey and their second-tier rivals.
Frank Lampard addresses Abdoulie Manneh links
Frank Lampard has made it clear he can’t comment on reports linking Coventry City with former Pompey target Abdoulie Manneh.
The Sky Blues, who currently top the Championship, are believed to be interested in making a move for the in-demand winger, who recently helped Mjallby AIF to their first Swedish title.
Indeed, the Gambia international netted seven goals and registered four assists in the Allsvenskan for MAIF, which caught the eye of a number of English suitors.
Manneh, who on Pompey’s radar at the start of the summer window, was valued at £4.2m at the time, while clubs including Bournemouth, Burnley, Brentford, Wolves and Olympiacos were also linked.
With interest in the young forward growing, reports in Sweden claimed earlier in the month that Coventry had opened talks over a potential move for the 21-year-old.
Amid speculation, Lampard has, though, stressed he can’t comment on players who are currently contracted to other teams
He told Coventry Live: ‘I can’t say much about that because he’s not our player. We’re always constantly looking to improve and I think that this year, specifically, we’ve got a tight squad, a thin squad in a sense.
‘There’s some positives to come from that in terms of everyone feels involved but over the duration of the season, of course, you get tested with games, injuries, form, all of those things. So it’s certainly something we’re looking at in January in terms of what we can do to help the squad.
‘Individually, I can’t comment but in terms of looking ahead to January then it’s something we’re considering because there haven’t been that many new additions.’
Wrexham want young talent
Wrexham are reportedly eyeing an ambitious move to land young French forward Sidiki Cherif.
Football Insider have claimed the Championship outfit are ready to do battle over the versatile forward in January, with Newcastle United and Sunderland both keen.
The article claims the 18-year-old is valued at £17m by Ligue 1 outfit Angers after an impressive start to the campaign, which has also seen him net three goals in his previous six outings.
Wrexham are said to be scouring the European markets in a bid to strengthen in the upcoming window, with Cherif firmly on their list.
The Red Dragons currently sit five points above Pompey in the table and picked up a point at Fratton Park earlier in the month.