John Mousinho: Three things on Portsmouth’s manager’s summer wish-list
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho did a fantastic job keeping Portsmouth in the Championship this season.
The 39-year-old steered Pompey to a 16th-place finish, surviving with two games to spare, despite the Blues being one of the favourites for the drop.
Behind the scenes, the work has already begun to improve the squad and ensure they build on that performance.
Here, Pompey News looks at three things that are sure to be on the Portsmouth manager’s summer wish list heading into the 2025-26 season.
A replacement for Freddie Potts
Mousinho recruited 21-year-old midfielder Freddie Potts on loan from West Ham last summer in his efforts to build a squad ready for the Championship.
Potts had never played in the second tier before, but the talented midfielder showed his class throughout the season and was arguably one of the squad’s standout performers.
The youngster has returned to West Ham now, and Mousinho has claimed there’s little chance of getting him back next season.
So, replacing him is likely to be a priority. Crystal Palace youngster Hindolo Mustapha has been linked with a loan move to Fratton Park, although there’s likely to be competition for him if the Eagles do let him leave.
A permanent deal for Rob Atkinson
Rob Atkinson was brought into Fratton Park on loan from Bristol City last January, following a small injury crisis among Portsmouth’s defenders.
The 26-year-old made an immediate impact, shoring up the backline whenever he appeared in a Portsmouth shirt.
| Appearances | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists |
| 14 | 1101 | 2 | 1 |
A calf injury limited his appearances, but Mousinho has made it clear that he’d love to bring Atkinson back to Portsmouth.
The centre-half has expressed a desire to return to Fratton Park, but any potential transfer would depend on whether Bristol City want to sell him.
More strength in depth up front
Colby Bishop has proven that he’s more than capable of leading the line in the Championship, but the Blues could still do with some extra firepower up front.
Kusini Yengi has left the club following the expiration of his contract, leaving the club even shorter of first-team strikers.
So, it wouldn’t be surprising to see one or two new forwards come through the door at Fratton Park this summer.