The developing goalkeeping headache forcing Portsmouth to contemplate more transfer business

Certainly there are plenty of positions Pompey would rather allocate precious financial resources to at present.

Nonetheless, for a third successive summer the Blues are scouring the international transfer market for a new goalkeeper - albeit, on this occasion, through necessity rather than choice.

Daniel Bielic, from NAC Breda, is supposedly primed for a 500,000 Euro switch to Fratton Park as reported targets from abroad continue to pile up, with few so far actually leading to permanent deals.

On the face of it, however, the link with the 27-year-old Polish keeper makes sense, particularly in the ongoing absence of Josef Bursik.

Bursik ruled out until September

Undoubtedly it’s a position which requires strengthening this summer, with the former Club Brugge stopper’s injury giving Pompey a real headache.

Having torn his quad while taking a goal kick just four minutes into April’s trip to Stoke, the ex-England youth international is not expected to return to action until September.

Indeed, Bursik wasn’t even named in John Mousinho’s squad for last week’s Republic of Ireland training camp, instead staying behind to maintain his rehabilitation.

That leaves just Nico Schmid and Ben Killip available at present, representing a frustrating number considering the Blues head coach’s preference for four goalkeepers to be utilised in training sessions.

Academy goalkeeping pair released

For their week-long Irish stay, goalkeeping coach Joe Promodo had recruited two temporary stand-ins, whose identities are being kept under wraps by the club.

Yet with Bursik still injured and Toby Steward returning to St Johnstone on a season-long loan, it’s a position they are now clearly short in - at least for training purposes.

At the end of last season, Jordan Archer left upon the culmination of his two-year contract and was joined by Academy pair Oscar Glover and Conal McDermott.

Archer’s exit had long been anticipated, having not been registered by the Blues in their Football League 25-man squad list last season, thereby totalling three outings in his two-year stay on the south-coast.

Elsewhere, as a second-year scholar, Glover spent the second half of last season on loan at Bashley, making 18 appearances.

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Just six weeks after being crowned as Academy Player of the Season 2025-26, he was released upon graduation, and subsequently returned to the National League South club on a permanent basis this summer.

Leaving Pompey was a similar fate for McDermott, a Northern Ireland youth international goalkeeper who joined from Derry City in September 2024 on a two-year scholarship.

Another loaned out for experience, he featured twice for Bashley, before joining Moneyfields on loan in January for two months, while totalled 13 appearances for the Academy.

Steward returns to St Johnstone

Meanwhile, Steward last week signed a new three-year deal ahead of securing another loan with St Johnstone, where he claimed the Scottish Championship title during a brilliant stay last season.

That leaves Schmid and Killip as Mousinho’s sole goalkeeping options heading into the busy pre-season friendly schedule, which starts at Woking on Tuesday (7pm).

Taking into account Reuben Allen, who finished last season in goal for the Academy, there remain glaring gaps in the goalkeeping ranks at present, particularly with the absence of Bursik.

Which makes reported interest in Bielica intriguing, with the 27-year-old having been relegated from Holland’s top flight at the end of last season.

The Polish keeper was a regular in the side which finished second from bottom in the Eredivisie and may now be eyeing a fresh start elsewhere - certainly Pompey are short of goalkeeping numbers at present.

Yet having spent on Schmid and Bursik in previous summers, a reported £426,000 move for Bielica would represent another significant outlay in a position which is potentially well-stocked.

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