Patrick Bamford update with talk of Portsmouth move amid Middlesbrough and Wrexham interest in former Leeds United man
Speculation is rife among Pompey fans tonight of a move for the former Derby County and Crystal Palace striker, after leaving Elland Road. Here’s the latest.
Pompey are not pursuing a move for out-of-contract striker Patrick Bamford after his Leeds United exit.
Talk has emerged this evening the Blues are closing in on a deal for the 32-year-old, who left Elland Road in the summer.
Middlesbrough, Wrexham and Getafe linked - but Pompey not Bamford suitors
The likes of Wrexham, Middlesbrough and La Liga side Getafe are said to be among those keen on Bamford, who is also attracting interest from the MLS.
On top of the latest speculation, the Blues were mentioned in a report listing clubs keen on the player shortly after the summer window closed.
The News understands Pompey are not among those considering a deal for the England international at present, however, as he plans to make his next steps.
John Mousinho has the flexibility to add an out-of-contract option to his group, after leaving a space open when registering his squad with the EFL after the transfer window’s close.
Pompey opted not to register keeper Jordan Archer meaning 24 senior players are registered over the age of 21, with eight contracted under-21 options in the group. Under EFL rules a maximum of 25 players over the age of 21 can be named.
That’s a route Mousinho has travelled in each of his full seasons at the Fratton helm.
In Feburary 2024, Lee Evans joined Pompey from Ipswich as he bolstered midfield options amid a swathe of injuries. Evans played four games as the Championship title was secured.
In March, Swedish defender Alexander Milosevic offered defensive cover with similar issues at the back, though the former Nottingham Forest man never featured at senior level.
Mousinho on adding an out-of-contract player: ‘You never know’
And it’s something Pompey are again open to considering, but not with Bamford at present.
When speaking about the space left in his squad for an out-of-contract, Mousinho told The News last month he felt it was a ‘wise’ move to make.
He said: ‘We haven’t necessarily got eyes on any potential players we want to bring in, but I’d guess you’d never know.
‘We’re really satisfied with where we are as a squad, certainly in terms of numbers, we’ve bolstered our numbers over the past couple of weeks.
‘But should something happen I think it’s wise for us to leave that spot open.
‘We’ve done that a couple of times.
‘We did that with Alex (Milosevic) last year, but unfortunately it didn’t necessarily work out for Alex - though it was good to have him around the place.
‘We had that spot going into January, but it was a slightly different scenario in League One because of the difference in the squad list.
‘But we had a spot for Lee Evans to come in, who did have an impact towards the end of the League One season.’