John Mousinho has easy Portsmouth decision to make amid new transfer update
John Mousinho’s immediate focus is on ensuring Portsmouth are mathematically safe in the Championship for next season.
Portsmouth are four points clear of the Championship drop zone with only four games to play and face a trip to Carrow Road to face midtable Norwich City on Good Friday.
But their bid to make sure they get over the survival line does not mean that Pompey and Mousinho should not have their eye on next season.
Indeed, the summer transfer window is fast coming into view and there could be one easy decision for the Pompey boss to make already.
Mousinho should go back in for Portsmouth January target
Portsmouth have been pretty effective in regards to signing free transfers, with the likes of Josh Murphy and Matt Ritchie arriving last summer to help the club’s return to the second tier.
You get the sense that next season will be about trying to sign quality Championship players with extensive experience of the division.
As such, an opportunity may have just landed on Mousinho’s lap after Daily Telegraph journalist Mike McGrath reported on X that Ryan Ledson is set to depart Preston at the end of his contract.
The 27-year-old has over 200 appearances for North End over seven years in Lancashire and Portsmouth were previously linked with Ledson’s signature back in the January transfer window.
Of course, on that occasion a move failed to come to fruition but the news he is now surplus to requirements at Preston means that surely there is an opportunity for a deal to be discussed once more.
Ledson is a solid midfielder who excels at defensive actions, ranking in the 85th and 84th percentile of Championship midfielders for blocks and aerials won respectively, according to data from FBRef.
He would add another body to a promising Portsmouth central midfield that features talents such as Andre Dozzell and Freddie Potts.
Rob Atkinson could sign permanently for Portsmouth
If Ledson is to join Pompey in the summer, there is a chance that defender Rob Atkinson could also join him.
The 26-year-old is currently at Fratton Park on loan from Bristol City, and has impressed with his performances – recently scoring a brace versus Derby, despite scoring an own goal.
Despite many fans wanting Atkinson to stay, a recent interview, where Atkinson used ‘you’ to refer to Portsmouth instead of we, has left some fans doubting if he will sign on a permanent basis.
But a permanent signature would be a great show of intent and, if they could add a player of Ledson’s experience too, then next season could be another building block for Pompey.