David Norris: Portsmouth need another six-plus signings through the door for Championship
Former Portsmouth midfielder David Norris says the club need “six, maybe more” signings for the upcoming Championship campaign.
Pompey have so far brought in five signings with Australian full-back Jacob Farrell set to imminently become the sixth new face through the door at Fratton Park [Andrew Moon, 19 July].
Sporting director Rich Hughes says the club are looking for a good five or six more to add to the squad.
Norris – who himself played for Pompey the last time the club competed in the second tier 13 seasons ago – echoes that the step up means further reinforcements are needed.
“I would say about six, yeah, maybe a couple more if we’re looking at squad players as well,” the ex-Blues man exclusively told Pompey News.
“It’s a 46-game season at a new level, the last thing you want to do is come up short – maybe some big signings if the club can afford them.
“It really is a step up and those players with that Championship experience can really make the difference in a league with plenty of other experienced heads.”
Portsmouth gradually bringing in Championship pedigree
What Portsmouth have so far done with their recruitment is strike a careful balance between increasing the Championship experience in the squad and conserving funds.
Pompey have brought in a mixture of free transfers and loan deals so far but have levelled up in terms of knowhow of the league, with Jordan Williams, Jordan Archer, Sam Silvera and Josh Murphy all having played to varying degrees and recency in the second tier.
Norris did acknowledge earlier this month that the players in John Mousinho’s squad who have not yet experienced the Championship can certainly step up, but that a tad more wisdom in the team of what is to come can help ease the whole dressing room.
Perhaps a positive factor in the long run for Pompey is that after a “baptism of fire” of fixtures in the opening two months of the 2024-25 campaign, things on paper will only get more comfortable as the season picks up the pace.
An early litmus test to see how well the new Blues to the division handle some of the toughest opponents outside the Premier League could pave the way for the stable season everyone at Fratton Park wants.
In other Portsmouth news, the latest on Brett Pitman’s local non-league career in the city.
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