BBC journalist identifies which position Portsmouth must prioritise with next signing
BBC broadcaster Andrew Moon says Portsmouth must prioritise signing a starting central midfielder for this season.
The Radio Solent commentator made the call on his weekly segment ‘Moon’s Musings’ [17 July], claiming Pompey need more depth in the position and likely someone to come straight into John Mousinho’s starting XI.
Captain Marlon Pack has signed a new contract at Fratton Park but the club have parted ways with Joe Morrell, as well as the return of popular loanees Alex Robertson and Tino Anjorin to respective parent clubs Manchester City and Chelsea.
Moon said: “Central midfield is, for me, probably the number one area the team need to recruit.
“There are already good players there like Pack and [Owen] Moxon, but you’d probably want another player with Championship experience to maybe come in and start.
“You’d love an Alex Robertson back, but there isn’t anymore news on him yet.”
Portsmouth ready to stock up in midfield
The positive for Portsmouth fans ahead of this season is that sporting director Rich Hughes has already come out and outlined where he feels the team still need to strengthen.
As well as a right-back, a centre-half, a number 10 and a third-choice goalkeeper, Hughes said the team will look to “improve the centre of midfield” [The News, 12 July].
Whether this means one, two or even three midfield players remains to be seen, but it was also left open-ended with Pompey’s retained interest in bringing loan players back – two of whom were in this position.
If the season were to start tomorrow, Pack and Moxon would almost certainly be deployed as two sitting central players, but Mousinho will be confident the club can give him more options in this area.
With the number of players Pompey have released and could consider selling or loaning out, it is likely the squad will be bulked out with further Championship pedigree before the window’s end.
And looking at the early fixtures, some of that work – you’d hope – will be completed before 10 August.
In other Portsmouth news, David Norris opens up on Pompey’s pre-season trip to America in 2011.
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