Will Norris rejects Portsmouth exit after deal agreed with club

Portsmouth agreed a deal with Barnsley to sell Will Norris but the goalkeeper rejected the move, according to Andy Giddings.

The BBC Radio Sheffield journalist posted on X (29 January) to report the two clubs had agreed on the switch but Norris turned down the chance to move to Oakwell.

Norris featured against Barnsley as Pompey earned promotion against the Reds at Fratton Park on 16 April last year, but has fallen down the pecking order this term following the summer arrival of Nicolas Schmid.

Giddings shared: "Hearing Barnsley agreed a deal to sign Portsmouth goalkeeper Will Norris, but the player rejected the move."

Will Norris biding his time for Portsmouth exit

It comes as an interesting development that Norris - now cast aside by Portsmouth - has rejected the chance to move to League One.

Scratching beneath the surface, however, the decision from Norris does become understandable when two goalkeepers have come through the door at Oakwell this month.

Joe Gauci has arrived on loan from Aston Villa in South Yorkshire, while Jackson Smith has returned from his loan at Grimsby Town, meaning Norris could have made the switch only to find himself out of the team as he is at Fratton Park.

The 31-year-old's stock remains high in League One - after all, he kept a gargantuan 19 clean sheets in the division last season as Pompey roared to the title, and then produced a string of highlights in the Championship despite losing his place in October.

Norris knows he will garner interest from elsewhere and remains likely to depart before 3 February - but he will ensure he goes somewhere he will be straight in as number one and kickstart his career once again.

In other Portsmouth news, Paul Merson raves about one Blues star after what happened against Millwall.

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