What convinced Conor Chaplin to make sensational Portsmouth return – two factors vital
Conor Chaplin made a late switch to Portsmouth on deadline day, ending his seven-year spell away from the South Coast club.
The deal no doubt came as a shock, with the signing seemingly coming out of nowhere.
Signing on a season-long loan, Chaplin is no doubt a coup for Portsmouth.
The attacking midfielder played a crucial part in Ipswich Town’s promotion only two seasons ago, proving he is still a top Championship player.
Now, it has been revealed how Pompey managed to convince the 28-year-old to return to the South Coast club.
Conor Chaplin spoke to Marlon Pack before completing Portsmouth move
While it may have been seven years since Chaplin was last at Fratton Park, many familiar faces remain.
One of whom is Marlon Pack, with the Pompey captain being in the youth system at the South Coast club at the same time as the 28-year-old before he left in 2011.
Now back at the South Coast club, it has been revealed by The News on 3 September that the two spoke at length ahead of returning.
- Chaplin came through Portsmouth’s academy and went on to play over 100 times for the first-team
- The attacking midfielder left Fratton Park in 2019 for Coventry
- Chaplin has now returned to Portsmouth on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town
On top of this, his former League Two title-winning skipper, Michael Doyle, is now on John Mousinho’s coaching staff.
These two factors, plus the lure of reuniting with Pompey, reportedly helped convince Chaplin that the move to Portsmouth was the right one.
Can Conor Chaplin lead Portsmouth to the playoffs?
While reaching the playoffs might sound like a stretch, it is certainly not out of Pompey’s reach.
Opta believes that Portsmouth have around a 15 per cent chance of winning the playoffs.
Therefore, if Chaplin can go on a similar run of form as he did in the 2023/24 campaign, a top-six finish cannot be ruled out.
| Conor Chaplin at Ipswich Town in the 2023/24 campaign | |
| Appearances | 47 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 9 |
Hopefully, Mousinho will have a plan in place for the 28-year-old to ensure that he is integrated into the system as quickly as possible.
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