John Mousinho eyes Portsmouth move for Brighton man amid contract news - report

Pete Hanson

Head of Editorial Standards & Recruitment AUTHORITY Former senior digital journalist at Stats Perform; network specialist in live data, editorial standards, and journalist recruitment. FOCUS Editorial standards, Statscore live data integration, newsroom operations, and recruitment. THE BRIEF Pete brings deep data expertise from his time at Stats Perform to oversee the network’s use of Statscore’s live data, setting the standard for how writers use it to produce original editorial content. He is also responsible for maintaining editorial standards and leading recruitment across the network.

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Portsmouth are one five clubs in the EFL who are keen on a summer transfer for Brighton midfielder Marc Leonard, according to the Daily Record (25 March).

Leonard is currently enjoying a second loan spell with Northampton Town, who he helped to gain promotion to League One last season.

The Record reports that the 22-year-old, who moved to the Seagulls from Hearts in a deal worth over £100,000 six years ago, is out of contract this summer but Brighton have a 12-month extension clause.

Pompey boss John Mousinho is said to have run the rule on Leonard as Northampton defeated Portsmouth's promotion-chasing rivals Derby County 1-0 on Saturday (23 March).

Championship sides Preston, Plymouth, Swansea and Cardiff are all named as potential rivals for Leonard's signature.

Portsmouth want to sign Brighton midfielder Marc Leonard

According to the Record report, Mousinho was interested in bringing Leonard to Fratton Park in the last summer transfer window before he opted to stay with Northampton having been an influential part of their promotion out of League 2.

So, it would make sense that he is still a keen admirer on a player who has made the step up to League One and clearly has a higher ceiling to reach given the amount of interest in his services from the Championship.

The 22-year-old has five goals in 40 third-tier appearances this term, a decent return from the middle of the park for a team who sit comfortably in midtable with the season coming a close.

It is promising to see Portsmouth already running the rule over players for next season where hopefully they will be back playing in the Championship. Pompey are top of the table and have a nine-point buffer to third with seven games to go.

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