Portsmouth boss reveals plans for late transfer spree at window’s climax
The Pompey transfer latest - both in terms of incomings and outgoings - at the climax of the summer window.
John Mousinho has targeted a trio of new additions before the close of the transfer window.
The Pompey boss expects three more players to arrive before the curtain comes down on summer business on Tuesday night.
Mousinho on transfer incomings: ‘We’re probably looking at three more.’
And the Blues boss is expecting a flow of players out the door before the close of play at 11pm, to enable a late flurry of incoming activity.
Mousinho has targeted a new full-back, with Liverpool’s Luke Chambers and Sheffield United’s Rhys Norrington-Davies two names touted to arrive.
A flexible attacking option is sought with Burton Albion’s Tyrese Shade a figure foremost in Pompey’s thoughts in that department.
The League One side are said to value Shade around £2m, a figure the Fratton football operation view as excessive for a player with single third tier season under his belt after stepping up from the National League with Eastleigh.
Then there is Adrian Segečić’s situation to consider, with Birmingham City eyeing the prized asset. Pompey will be ready to react in the event of a late departure for last season’s top scorer.
When asked over the number of signings Pompey fan can expect, Mousinho told The News: ‘I still think we’re short, so we’re probably looking at three more.
Meanwhile, Mousinho is anticipating a swathe of exits with Pompey required to work to the EFL’s 25-man squad rules in play in the Championship.
With Josh Knight joining League One side Reading on loan for the rest of the season, the Blues currently have 29 players counting towards that total. Additionally, they possess eight contracted under-21 players who are not counted towards the 25-man total.
The likes of Hayden Matthews, Harvey Blair, Luke Le Roux and keeper Josef Bursik are all names likely to move on or be deregistered.
There’s talk of AFC Wimbledon being keen on Bursik, with the keeper keen to find regular football moving forward.
Mousinho added: ‘We’ve found a move for Josh and that’s really good for him.
‘We’ve got a couple of loans out at the minute, so we’ll now see how that progresses over the next couple of days.
‘There’s not any I know of (close to leaving), but I do think there’s going to be a bit of movement.
‘If that’s happened (AFC Wimbledon interest in Bursik) I’m not aware of it at the minute, but that might just be because I’ve been out of the loop over the past couple of days.’