Portsmouth boss John Mousinho pinpoints how many January signings he needs - and he's confident of getting them
Pompey are banking on a strong January transfer window to relief their relegation concerns
John Mousinho is adamant he needs ‘between 3-6’ new recruits in January to fire Pompey up the Championship.
And he is confident Michael Eisner will give the green light to make the crucial additions.
With two wins from their last 14 games, the Blues now occupy the relegation zone for the first time this season, with only Norwich and doomed Sheffield Wednesday below.
Once again the January transfer window will be pivotal to Pompey’s survival hopes, yet, in the meantime, they have another seven matches to negotiate with the present squad, starting with Saturday’s trip to Charlton (12.30pm).
Mousinho, sporting director Rich Hughes and head of recruitment Brad Wall have spent several months busily compiling their New Year wish list, with the striking area of primary concern.
And in a window which could decide the destiny of Pompey’s season, the head coach believes fresh arrivals will be a mixture of permanent and loan deals.
‘I think we’ll get that’
Mousinho told The News: ‘Much will depend on where we are when we get to January, whether the likes of Harvey Blair and Franco come back and are fit and firing and can stay healthy.
‘But, without being precise, we are looking at between 3-6 - and I think we’ll get that.
‘We’ve got a good idea of the positions needed, you will find out at the back end of January. You’ll have to be patient.
‘There will be a mixture of loans and permanents. Ideally, the short-term is probably the most important thing for us in this window, considering the league position.
‘If we can enhance our capabilities longer term as well, then we will look to do that. Last year when we brought in Hayden and Tom Waddingham, they were probably more for the long-term.
‘Yet they both also had a real impact in terms of our run-in in the Championship.’
Previously successful January windows
Having entered the New Year in 23rd place, Pompey’s January 2025 transfer window helped propel them away from the relegation zone.
Their eight recruits included Rob Atkinson, Isaac Hayden, Thomas Waddingham, Hayden Matthews, Cohen Bramall, Adil Aouchiche, Ben Killip and Kaide Gordon.
Half of that number involved transfer fees, while Bristol City loanee Atkinson was unquestionably the cream of that crop, despite missing seven matches through injury.
Pompey also enjoyed a good January 2024 window, with the likes of Callum Lang, Owen Moxon and Myles Peart-Harris bolstering a side already long-time League One leaders.
And how a Blues side placed 22nd in the Championship table are desperate for another strong January window.
Pompey boss: ‘January is a bit more straight-forward window’
Mousinho added: ‘It’s always a very, very difficult window because you’re being a bit more reactive to your league position. Some of the areas you need to strengthen, areas which maybe you’ve lost out on players.
‘That focuses everything slightly more. In that summer window, if you’ve got somebody injured at the beginning of May or the beginning of June, then you don’t necessarily have to replace them straight away.
‘But certainly in January you've got that real focus and you know exactly how things are going based on league results and league positions. It’s probably a bit more of a straight-forward window.’