Portsmouth told bargain transfers available with three signings needed – Exclusive
Portsmouth will be looking to kick on and establish themselves as a recognised force in the Championship next season.
The Blues finished 16th this year, securing survival with two games to spare.
However, Portsmouth were in the midst of a relegation battle for most of the campaign, only escaping via a fine run of Championship form when it mattered most.
John Mousinho and his staff will be hoping for a less stressful season next time around, although that will likely require a string of signings to improve his first-team squad.
Ian Darke wants to see signings made at Fratton Park
Pompey haven’t recruited any new faces yet, although defender Rob Atkinson has been heavily linked with a permanent move to Fratton Park, following his successful loan spell this year.
Yet, Ian Darke believes Pompey might already have enough strength in depth at the back.
In an exclusive interview with Pompey News, the renowned commentator and Portsmouth fan outlined three positions where Portsmouth need to strengthen to avoid a relegation scrap next season.
He said: “I don’t think they need anything in defence. The goalkeeper is OK. They obviously need to buy a central-midfield player and a good one to replace Freddie Potts.
“They need a right-winger and they probably need an artistic number 10 type of player, who can pick a pass and give them a little more creativity.”
Pompey tipped to land bargains from the foreign market
It’s no secret that Mousinho is looking for central midfielders. Both Potts and Isaac Hayden were instrumental in the centre of the park this season, but their loan spells have ended, and it seems unlikely that they’ll return to Fratton Park.
It’s well know that Pompey have one of the lowest transfer budgets in the Championship, which makes it much harder to replace these young stars.
| Portsmouth Championship statistics 2024-25 | |
| Games Played | 46 |
| Wins | 14 |
| Draws | 12 |
| Losses | 20 |
| Goal Difference | -13 |
| Points | 54 |
Darke suggested the Blues will look to the foreign market to do most of their business this season, as it offers better value for money.
He explained: “You can offer a bit less and teams will let their player go because they’re working on lower budgets abroad.
“A good player who, if he was being transferred in England, might be worth £10m. You could probably get that same for three or four million if he was playing in the French second division.”