The inside track on Portsmouth’s summer transfer plans
There’s 35 days until the transfer window opens for business. The News has the lowdown on how summer recruitment plans are shaping up for Pompey.
The work has been months and even years in the making as the countdown continues to the summer transfer window opening on June 15.
But how are Pompey’s preparations for recruitment business shaping up, with boss John Mousinho expecting another ‘busy’ period of player trading?
Which areas will Pompey will look to strengthen, who stays and who is set to go
We’ve got the lowdown on how things are set to look for the Blues, as they reshape their squad for a third campaign at Championship level.
One area where things are in rude health is between the sticks. Nico Schmid is contracted and will remain first choice, with Josef Bursik and Ben Killip both having another year to go on their agreements.
Jordan Archer will depart as a free agent meaning another back-up could be sought for training purposes, especially if Toby Steward is sent out on loan to gain another year of first-team football to aid his development.
The full-back areas are departments which are certainly expected to be under the microscope in the months ahead.
Firstly at right-back, everything points to Terry Devlin moving on as Pompey’s prized asset, with the Northern Ireland man cleaning up on player-of-the-year honours. Wrexham made a £2m move for the 22-year-old in January, with that offer knocked back and Devlin’s stock rising since.
Zak Swanson is out of contract but is expected to stay for a fifth season at PO4. It remains to be seen if Jordan Williams is content to remain, however, after a relative lack of football over the second half of the campaign.
A new left-back will certainly be sought with Connor Ogilvie the established choice there, but Jacob Farrell likely to be moving on in the summer.
Pompey’s squad currently houses a whopping six centre-backs. That means that area will not be an immediate focus, though fringe players like Ibane Bowat could well move on with the player keen for regular game time.
The News reported on Saturday Hayden Matthews is wanted moving forward, while Madiodio Dia is viewed as a player who can be developed into a Championship asset.
Conor Shaughnessy and Regan Poole are established front-line options, leaving Josh Knight as a player needing to step up and show his worth after a testing maiden season.
Midfield will once again be an area of focus, with some front-line quality needed next term. Mousinho is believed to be keen to add a ‘ball-playing No6’ to his group, as he searches for the right blend of attributes centrally.
Andre Dozzell has moved on with Marlon Pack committing his future with a new 12-month agreement last week. The News reported Luke Le Roux is wanted next term with Ebou Adams a big success after his January capture from Derby County. Mark Kosznovszky is fighting back from a major knee injury, with John Swift contracted.
Attacking areas will once again be facing some significant surgery, with loanees Gustavo Caballero, Millenic Alli and Conor Chaplin returning to their parent clubs.
Caballero would be wanted permanently at the right price, with it expected to become clearer how things stand for Alli and Chaplin long term in the coming weeks.
Adrian Segecic’s breakout finale to the season has seen his stock rise, with there transfer interest in Pompey’s top scorer. Segecic’s status could be further elevated by World Cup involvement with Croatia this summer.
That then leaves arguably the key area of transfer focus in the No9 department. A lack of a real front-line alternative to Colby Bishop was exposed this season, as the leading scorer of the past three campaigns struggled with his form.
The football operation’s decision was based around stretching the second lowest transfer budget in the Championship as far as possible, though Pompey accept that situation needs addressing, They will not necessarily look for a proven operator at second-tier level there, but serious front-line competition for Bishop is certainly sought.
Beyond that, expect young fringe players to be sent out on loan as the Blues work within the confines of the EFL’s 25-man squad rules. The likes of Makenzie Kirk, Harvey Blair and Franco Umeh could all conceivably fall within that category.