Portsmouth fans ‘sad’ as yet another Fratton Park exit is agreed
Portsmouth must be prudent with their transfer business this summer as they attempt to strengthen their hand for the next Championship season.
Pompey tasted the second tier for the first time in 12 years last term, and they will be looking to further consolidate their position this time around.
John Mousinho has defied initial expectations with the job he’s done, having led the South Coast outfit to the League One title in his first season as a manager, and then ensured their safety in relatively comfortable fashion last term.
Portsmouth’s budget is typically fairly low compared to their Championship counterparts, making their transfer business difficult at times, but there is no one the fans would rather have at the helm than Mousinho.
Portsmouth fans react as Christian Saydee departs
The Fratton Park outfit’s recent rise has naturally meant that the club has perhaps outgrown some members of the squad, with one of those figures being Christian Saydee.
Saydee’s Pompey exit was confirmed on Thursday (19 June), with the 23-year-old moving to join Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
The frontman became a popular figure at Pompey, regardless of the fact his goal return wasn’t as strong as the club would have hoped. The former Bournemouth issued an emotional message upon his departure, which has been well-received by the fans.
One supporter referred to Saydee as a “special player” while another added that Saydee’s move was said, but made sense.
Portsmouth will hope Segecic can provide an alternative option
Pompey fans should have high hopes that Adrian Segecic can fill the gap left by Saydee, despite the disappointment over his departure.
The 21-year-old is the latest Australian A-League star to make the switch to join Mousinho’s men, and he boasts the kind of goal record which could see him become an instant hit on the South Coast.
Segecic hit 18 goals from just 36 appearances for Sydney FC last season, and looks like a player who could be capable of becoming a steal for Pompey, especially if he can quickly adapt to life in the EFL in the early stages of the season.
There can be no doubt that it is a major gamble to turn to a man with little experience outside Australia to provide the goals, but if it pays off, then it could prove to be a masterstroke.
With deals for the likes of John Swift also potentially in the pipeline, Pompey fans will be hoping there are plenty more new additions to come before the 2025/26 campaign gets underway.