Portsmouth to consider permanent swoop for ‘really talented’ Viv Solomon-Otabor should he depart Birmingham City

The winger spent the second half of the season on loan at Fratton Park from St Andrew’s.

Solomon-Otabor scored one goal in 10 appearances, although his Blues spell was interrupted when a calf injury confined him to a period on the treatment table.

Since returning to parent-club Birmingham after the Blues’ failed attempt to make the League One play-off final, the 23-year-old has been offered a new one-year deal by Garry Monk. 

The wide man is still to put pen to paper, though, and is weighing up his future.

And if Solomon-Otabor departed the Championship side, Jackett would mull over bringing him back to the south coast and help him fulfil his potential.

The Pompey boss said: ‘Viv has been offered a new deal at Birmingham. 

‘He’s a really talented player – you could see his talent there.

'Perhaps he’s at the start of his journey and would have to build into that.

‘But I do think within a short space of time then Viv could make the progress to be a good player.

‘His potential is there. He is definitely not the finished article but it’s where we start with players as managers.

‘We start at looking at players who have a bit of potential and then rounding them and putting them in the right direction.

‘I don’t know to be honest (if he’ll sign a new deal at Birmingham).

‘It’s hard to speak for Birmingham and they’ve had their (financial) troubles. Are they realigning slightly?’

Although Jackett accepts Solomon-Otabor would need honing, it’s a task he would relish.

And he highlighted several of his Pompey signings have fallen into that category. 

The manager added: ‘It’s where we are, bringing in players from underneath and developing.

‘Similarly, we don’t want them to take too long to develop and can come on pretty quickly.’