View: Portsmouth can excel with new deal for 92% Zak Swanson despite injury recurrence
Portsmouth are set to retain Zak Swanson following lengthy contract talks, according to BBC broadcaster Andrew Moon.
Moon shared an update via John Mousinho on his X page [16 July] following Pompey’s 3-1 pre-season opener win at Gosport Borough, claiming Swanson’s new deal is close.
Swanson is technically a free agent after his contract at Fratton Park expired on 30 June, the club opting not to trigger a 12-month extension but instead drum up fresh terms for the right-back.
Mousinho has since brought in Barnsley captain Jordan Williams in his position, but the imminent deal shows Swanson can still be a key part.
Portsmouth can get the best out of Swanson
Having only appeared 12 times for Portsmouth in last season’s League One success, Swanson has struggled with a persistent groin issue which was said not to require surgery at the end of the campaign.
However, his ability since signing from Arsenal has not been questioned and can be backed up by his comfort in a ball-playing side, unsurprising given his Gunners background.
Swanson had 92% more touches of the ball than any other full-back in League One last year [Fotmob] which given the Blues’ regular dominance of games shows his eagerness to get in possession in the backline.
The 23-year-old also clocked a pass accuracy of 78.7%, often linking up with loan sensation Abu Kamara as the basis of an attacking combination which worked excellently given Kamara’s 18 goal contributions whilst at Fratton.
When Swanson himself joined the attack, he boasted an impressive 30% cross accuracy, thanks in part to the aerial prowess and clever movement of Colby Bishop and – later in the campaign – Kusini Yengi.
Despite his injury record, he did play more often in his debut season at the club of 2022-23, and as shown by FBRef, registered just one fewer cross [29] than successful tackles [30], with more of a freedom to get up the pitch in a season admittedly not as successful for the team, who finished ninth in League One with Mousinho arriving at the halfway point.
All the evidence is there to prove it is a smart decision to retain Swanson, albeit likely with certain print in his anticipated new contract to protect the club should his groin issue relapse.
In other Portsmouth news, a Pompey goalkeeper has gone out on a second loan.
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