Portsmouth should sign League One best for Championship journey – Bardell
Dan Bardell believes Portsmouth should continue a strategy of signing some of League One’s best talent in the Championship this year.
The sports presenter and podcaster, who features predominantly on Sky Sports News, says a trend has developed whereby promoted clubs often shop in the market of the most impressive talent from the division they have just moved out of.
Pompey have already adopted this with several signings this summer, including Josh Murphy and Jordan Williams, who both played against John Mousinho’s side in League One last season.
Speaking exclusively to Pompey News, Bardell said of the recruitment approach: “Can Portsmouth take some of the higher level League One players with them on this journey? You’re seeing it a lot in the Premier League with [Championship] players.
“It’s about consolidation for Portsmouth this year, although they may feel as though they have a sneaky desire of getting in the play-offs and having a promotion campaign.
“I don’t think they can just go around the Championship and cherry-pick players, but they could be better off signing talent from the league they’ve just come from as they need a few more options.”
Portsmouth in the market for further deals
Portsmouth have so far brought five players through the door at Fratton Park and agreed contract extensions for two more who would have become free agents, which will shortly become three when Zak Swanson’s new deal is confirmed.
With 10 senior players released after last season’s League One title success, the club are looking to trim the squad and further fringe players and youngsters are expected to head out on loan as the window progresses.
However, Pompey are very much still in the market to strengthen the squad so they can have a chance at competing in a rigorous Championship campaign, with sporting director Rich Hughes confirming the club are hoping to add another “five or six” to the party.
Supporters are excited at Fratton Park over who may come through the door – perhaps even one or two familiar faces in more ways than one, with a clear interest in former loanee Abu Kamara supplemented by robust rumours of a homecoming for Matt Ritchie.
With a tough run of fixtures to begin 2024-25, Mousinho will hope he has further firepower at his disposal between now and the end of pre-season.
In other Portsmouth news, two trialists who featured earlier this week are confirmed.
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