Eisners ‘must strike now’ if Portsmouth want to seal Pelle Mattsson transfer
Portsmouth have enjoyed a productive start to the summer transfer window.
The Blues have already signed Adrian Segecic and John Swift to boost their squad ahead of the new season, with very little expenditure.
What’s more, the south coast club are closing in on midfield maestro Mark Kosznovszky, with Pelle Mattsson another possible arrival.
These signings would leave the squad in good shape to improve on last season’s 16th-place finish in the Championship.
However, they’ll need to move quickly to seal these deals as there’s competition in the race to sign both of these players.
FC Nurnberg hope to steal Mattsson from under Portsmouth’s nose
Portsmouth were in a direct battle with Norwich City to sign Mattsson.
Norwich were the favourites to sign him, but the Canaries now seem to have cooled their interest.
However, Pompey appeared to have stalled in their efforts to bring him to Fratton Park, allowing FC Nurnberg the opportunity to jump in and steal him.
Florian Plettenberg, a reporter for Sky in Germany, says that Mattsson has emerged as a “dream signing” for the Bundesliga 2 side.
Crucially, he has suggested that the Danish midfielder is already in talks over that move.
Portsmouth still look light in midfield as new Championship season approaches
The signings of Segecic and Swift will undoubtedly add some extra quality to Portsmouth’s ranks. Both will be expected to be regular starters once the new season begins.
Swift mostly served as a playmaker during his three years at West Bromwich Albion, although he’s expected to drop deeper into the midfield for Portsmouth.
Even so, John Mousinho’s squad still looks a little light in the centre of midfield.
The Pompey boss was reliant on loan signings Freddie Potts and Issac Hayden at the back end of last season, but they have both returned to their parent clubs. He could do with a couple more options in his engine room to replace them.
A deal with Kosznovszky is close. Could this be why the pursuit of Mattsson has stalled? Have the Eisners told Mousinho there’s only room in the budget for one of these targets?
In an ideal world, they would be able to sign both before the Championship season kicks off on 9 August, but the Eisners must strike now if that is to be the case.
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