Portsmouth and Matt Ritchie ‘find perfect solution’ as new exit update delivered
Portsmouth are hoping to remain active in the summer transfer market despite their bright start to the season.
Portsmouth beat Oxford 1-0 in their opening league match, with debutant Adrian Segecic scoring the goal and several other new signings performing well.
Still, John Mousinho has insisted that he’s still pushing for a couple of additional signings before the transfer window closes.
Pompey are also making progress when it comes to shifting unwanted players out the door.
Ritchie and other unwanted players moving closer to Portsmouth exit
Mousinho has confirmed that Matt Ritchie is moving closer to a transfer away from Fratton Park.
It was agreed that Ritchie should leave Portsmouth this summer after his discussions with Mousinho about how often he’d play this season.
The News reports that Reading are interested in signing the 35-year-old winger, while negotiations are “moving along” with Portsmouth’s plans to sell Abdoulaye Kamara and Tom McIntyre.
Portsmouth have already managed to shift several fringe players this summer, including Christian Saydee, Ryley Towler and Paddy Lane.
Ritchie made 40 appearances for Portsmouth last season, but wanted Mousinho to assure him of a first-team place in the final year of his contract.
The Portsmouth boss couldn’t do that and agreed to let Ritchie to join a club where he was more likely to play every week.
It seems like the perfect outcome, with Pompey getting a player Mousinho doesn’t need off the books, while the midfielder can play regularly at a slightly lower level.
Mousinho has done a great job of trimming the Portsmouth squad
Mousinho has been widely praised for his recruitment since being appointed as Portsmouth boss.
However, he has also been very good at deciding when to let players go.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 40 | 5 | 1 |
This is a part of football management that is rarely discussed, but it’s crucial when taking charge of a club with such a small budget.
Mousinho chose to part ways with Lane, Towler and Saydee and earn a fee for each of them, rather than keeping them around as back-ups and most likely losing them on a free transfer.
Without making these decisions, he may not have been able to afford the likes of Mark Kosznovszky or Luke Le Roux this summer.
It also helps the overall morale of the dressing room when it’s not packed with players who can never get a game.
With that in mind, Portsmouth players should be happy to say goodbye to the likes of Ritchie, Kamara and McIntyre.
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