Portsmouth insider ‘sure’ on Rich Hughes transfer move amid Abu Kamara talk
Portsmouth will aim to finish their season the right way with three points against lowly Hull City this weekend, but it will be easier said than done.
Former Southampton boss Ruben Selles brings his Tigers side down to Fratton Park (3 May) for a league finale from which they must avoid defeat or League One football is a certainty next season.
Even a draw might not be enough – but Pompey want to gloss a successful survival campaign of their own in front of a packed-out Fratton crowd.
Ian Darke admits Portsmouth ‘plot’ for Abu Kamara
Plenty of the discourse approaching the Championship’s final weekend at Fratton Park has been the return to Portsmouth of Kamara.
The winger was exemplary on loan in a blue shirt last season in Pompey’s efforts to climb out of League One, before Hull threw down a £4.5million fee gleefully accepted by Norwich City.
For all his hard work with the Blues, Kamara is on the verge of becoming a League One player for a second time – a certainty if his old boss John Mousinho claims a 12th home win of the campaign.
TV commentator and Blues fan Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, confessed it would be “some plot” if Hull’s relegation drove Kamara back to Fratton Park, but explained Rich Hughes likely has new transfer targets.
“I don’t know whether they’re even thinking to sign Kamara back, but it would be some plot,” Darke said.
“Some of the fans who still want Kamara will be thinking like that, I’m sure, as well as the fact a former Southampton manager could be relegated by Pompey at Fratton Park this weekend. Hull don’t want Pompey to have any motivation, but that’s only the fans.
“But that was a year ago. Pompey fans back then were talking about needing to get Kamara back; get [Alex] Robertson back, but they’re both now at clubs who either are or could be going down. I’m sure Rich Hughes has other names to think about – replacing Freddie Potts is the key for me in that midfield.”
Joe Gelhardt also likely to be available this summer
Hull also boast Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt in their ranks – a player desperate for a sustained run of regular football.
Gelhardt would be massively unlikely to entertain the Tigers in League One, and having not got into Daniel Farke’s plans for Leeds in the Championship this year, will not be considered by the current setup at Elland Road in the Premier League.
| Portsmouth – final fixture | Date |
| Hull (H) | Sat 3 May |
Portsmouth are one of several names touted for Gelhardt’s future – though there is bound to be plenty of demand and a new contract for Callum Lang would certainly be a priority.