Josh Murphy: Portsmouth’s conditions for accepting Fratton Park exit
Portsmouth made what would turn out to be potentially the signing of the season in the Championship when they brought in Josh Murphy.
Murphy was nabbed from under the noses of John Mousinho’s former club Oxford United, who confirmed their own safety in the division on Saturday (26 April).
Pound for pound, Murphy has been a revelation having arrived on a free transfer, and a statistic has emerged which could alert potential suitors this summer.
Murphy has been the key for Portsmouth
After an initial injury-inflicted slow start to the season for Murphy, he soon took the Championship in his stride in a way not enough of his teammates did in the early stages of the season.
As his Portsmouth teammates improved, Murphy got even better, and is now out in front as the leading assist provider in the division.
The 30-year-old squared it expertly from the left to allow Harvey Blair a tap-in for his first Portsmouth goal against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.
It was a case of the master and the apprentice at its best, and Murphy’s valuation from his peers was proven by one of his three seasonal awards scooped last week at Fratton Park – the Players’ Player of the Season accolade.
What Pompey must surely now do is rebuff any bids that come short of allowing Mousinho and Rich Hughes to rebuild the entire team for the better. That is the only way the Blues can allow Murphy to leave.
Without him this season, Portsmouth would be in deep trouble, and they cannot risk that next year when attempting to climb the table and establish themselves further.
Mousinho looking to build squad around star men
Mousinho and Hughes will work hard in the summer to look to build an even stronger Championship squad at Fratton Park.
The head coach confirmed after the safety-securing win over Watford (21 April) that Portsmouth would be allocated larger funding from the Eisners for transfers.
| Top assists – Championship | Assists |
| Josh Murphy – Portsmouth | 14 |
| Tom Fellows – West Brom | 13 |
| Jack Rudoni – Coventry | 12 |
| Finn Azaz – Middlesbrough | 11 |
| Manor Solomon – Leeds | 11 |
Pompey have been astute in the market with many players over the past year or two, operating on a restricted budget, so hopes are high that they can continue to deliver.
Keeping the likes of Murphy, Callum Lang and Conor Shaughnessy is equally as important, in order to build from an impressive canvas already worked up.