Portsmouth have chance to ‘land Joe Gelhardt and re-sign Hull teammate’
Portsmouth have five fixtures separating them from Championship safety and the ability to plan for next season established as a second-tier side.
Pompey are among at least eight teams who still realistically risk the drop, with the final third of the Championship table potentially becoming a division of its own depending on results this weekend.
Luckily for a side who have been ridiculously better at home than away this season, Portsmouth host three of their final five at Fratton Park – Saturday’s contest with rivals Derby County imperative not to lose (12 April).
Portsmouth could relegate Hull and sign two of their players
As well as facing Derby, another – and the last – of Portsmouth’s fixtures comes against Hull City (3 May) on the final day.
Hull sit on 44 points, one point and two places below Pompey, while Derby are only above the relegation zone on goal difference with a total of 42.
Abu Kamara signed for the Tigers last summer as they threw a significant bid at Norwich City, from whom the winger was instrumental in getting Pompey promoted while on loan in League One last year.
A fan favourite at Fratton Park, Kamara was terrific in his maiden season as a starter in senior football.
Elsewhere, Portsmouth were linked with Joe Gelhardt in January, as the forward had been frozen out by Leeds United. Hull took Gelhardt on loan as it were, where he has been a regular starter and scored three goals.
There is zero chance Gelhardt would move on a permanent to Hull if they are relegated; Kamara would be one to get off the books as well for an attempted recoup on the £4.5million for which they signed him.
Pompey could reignite their interest in both if they became available, which could provide a massive incentive if the relegation fight pans out against Hull towards the final day.
It’s a double-edged sword – the Blues must do their job, too – but if that particular situation did occur heading into the finale at Fratton Park, Rich Hughes would be offering Mousinho a swift reminder in case he was aiming for a wholesale squad rotation.
Kamara and Gelhardt would massively strengthen Pompey squad
Clubs will be on amber alert over potentially relegated sides – including Portsmouth – in case they fancy raiding their players. It happens every year.
Should the worst happen at Fratton Park, there will be several snapped up by other Championship clubs as Pompey would move back down the food chain and require some decent transfer sums to be financially secure.
The same could happen with Hull. Gelhardt is on loan, but hasn’t been getting close to it for Leeds in the Championship. If they’re in the Premier League next season, his exit from Elland Road is as much as certain.
| POS | Championship table 2024-25 | PLD | PTS | GD |
| 17 | PORTSMOUTH | 41 | 45 | -16 |
| 18 | Oxford | 41 | 45 | -18 |
| 19 | Hull | 41 | 44 | -9 |
| 20 | Stoke | 41 | 44 | -12 |
| 21 | Derby | 41 | 42 | -10 |
| 22 | Cardiff | 41 | 42 | -20 |
| 23 | Luton | 41 | 40 | -25 |
| 24 | Plymouth | 41 | 37 | -39 |
Portsmouth know the proof is in the pudding with Kamara after his impact last term. Without his loan stint from Norwich, the Blues may not have even got over the line.
It will certainly be interesting to see what the Pompey hierarchy can do, and hopefully with a little more of a financial backing in the transfer window with a year in the Championship behind them.