Portsmouth close in on Derby County man ahead of Sheffield Wednesday as sporting director’s influence felt
The latest on Pompey’ move for Derby County and former Cardiff City midfielder Ebou Adams this morning.
Pompey are closing in on making Ebou Adams their key missing midfield ingredient.
The News understands there’s credence in reports linking the Blues with a deal for the Derby County man.
Pompey move in for Derby County enforcer
Adams is the man who Pompey believe can add missing physicality to the middle of the park, as they bid to maintain their place in the Championship.
That’s been identified as an important quality which is required centrally by boss John Mousinho, in a key period of recruitment for his side.
It’s sporting director Rich Hughes who is the key conduit to the Adams deal taking place, with Hughes the man who identified Adams’ combative qualities in the non-league game.
He took the 30-year-old to Forest Green in 2019, where his stock really began to rise after spells outside of the Football League after leaving Norwich City in 2018.
That led to Adams being developed into one of the club’s many profitable assets, with a move to Cardiff City ensuing in 2022. A switch to Derby took place in 2024, with an initial fee of £500,000 rising to £1m reported.
Pompey’s interest in the Londoner has been strong in the build-up to the transfer window, though there was initial reservations they would be able to fund the move they were pursuing.
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Derby now appear happy to do a deal for their current player of the season, however, with his existing agreement running until the summer of 2027 at Pride Park. A £500,000 switch has now reportedly been agreed.
Sporting director Rich Hughes key to Adams deal
Despite his success last season, Adams’ appearance time has become more intermittent in recent weeks under John Eustace, with Derby bringing in young Danish midfielder Oscar Fraulo in the January window.
Pompey now appear increasingly likely to get their man, after landing Luton Town winger Millenic Alli as the first arrival of the January window this week.
The Blues have been hit with major injury issues, with the midfield department impacted. Hungarian Mark Kosznovszky is facing up to 12 months with a serious knee injury picked up against Charlton Athletic last month.
That leaves Andre Dozzell, Marlon Pack, Luke Le Roux as the main considerations for the double pivot role usually employed by Mousinho, with John Swift also utilised there this season.
For Adams to feature against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, he would need to be registered by midday today.