Portsmouth boss details where January transfer window strategy now stands amid Championship struggle
It’s just over six weeks until what is shaping up to be another massive transfer window for Pompey - John Mousinho discusses his club’s plans.
John Mousinho is adamant clear recruitment plans are in place ahead of what is once again shaping into a big January transfer window for Pompey.
But the Blues believes his side’s current fitness issues underline the need for flexibility over the strategy for signings in the new year.
Pompey boss: ‘You have to be flexible’
And Mousinho forwarded his view that, for all the long-term thinking in place at Fratton Park, he feels there is also a requirement to react to any immediate deficiencies he feels become apparent in his squad.
It’s now just over six weeks until Pompey can add to their group, when the shutters come up for business on January 1, 2026.
There’s already clear areas of the pitch which look likely to require attention, with the recent injury to Connor Ogilvie exposing a lack of left-back options.
That shows how Pompey need to be malleable as they go about their work, as Mousinho offered insight to the club’s transfer thinking.
He said: ‘We’ve got plans and have clear plans, but we can have the clearest plans in the world in November or on December 31.
‘Then your left-back goes down with a potentially serious injury and your plans go up in flames. We just have to be really flexible and Connor is a really good example of that.
‘Those sort of things mean we can have all the targets in the world and in certain areas, which we will do, but we have to be flexible and adjustable to have players for every position.
‘We’ll plan with target positions in terms of what we’re after, and we’ll have an idea where we want to go with those spots.
‘For example, last year we were very secure with wanting a centre-back to come into the building. We wanted a loan centre-half to come into the building and we knew that was a priority. After that we looked at the long-term ones, so it was Rob Atkinson and Hayden Matthews.
‘So we were very secure and sold on bringing a centre-back into the building and a loan centre–back.
‘So when I say we’re secure in terms of what we want, whether a loan, permanent or free. All of those things will be received well when we present that - but we have to be flexible.
‘We got to a position last January when we had options on the table in certain positons, but we didn’t know if they were going to be available or not. We were waiting to see if the clubs would release them or not.
‘A couple of the players ended up going back into their sides and played the last four months of the season. Others we got quite easily and impacted us. You just never know. You never know in January, that’s why business happens late.’
League performances will shine light on Pompey transfers
Pompey’s promising start to the season raised positivity at where Mousinho’s side could aim this term, but that optimism has evaporated off the back of one league win in 11 and a slide down the table.
Mousinho is guarding against kneejerk transfer reactions, but highlighted that has to be balanced off about buying for the challenges the Championship season is presenting.
He added: ‘It’s an interesting one.
‘If you’d asked me after the Leicester game my answer would’ve been different to what it is now, off the back of five losses and a draw.
‘You try not to be reactive, but you naturally look at where you are with the squad in football while results and where you are in the league will definitely impact things.
‘We have a pretty good idea, but again that will change.’