Portsmouth set to beat clubs from Spain, Italy and America to land in-demand teenage talent
The 18-year-old made 19 appearances and registered two assists in the A-League last season
Pompey are growing increasingly confident that Luke Brooke-Smith is heading to Fratton Park.
The Blues have been battling with clubs in Italy, Spain and America this summer to land the highly-regarded 18-year-old attacker.
However, it is understood the Championship is the youngster’s preferred destination, with Pompey closing in on bringing him to Fratton Park.
Holds a British passport
Brooke-Smith, whose father is English, holds a British passport, while naturally would be categorized as an under-21 player for the purposes of the 25-man Football League squad.
The fact the Wellington Phoenix player fulfils both criteria makes his acquisition even more attractive for the Blues, who are still finalising work permit details for Rocco Shein and Marko Milovanovic.
Brooke-Smith has totalled 34 appearances for Phoenix, helping them to finish eighth in the A-League last term, where he played in the same side as ex-Pompey keeper Josh Oluwayemi.
Reports of the Blues’ interest in Brooke-Smith first emerged on Saturday, when Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph revealed a potential £400,000 move on a three-year deal.
The News understands negotiations are continuing, having identified the talented teenager as a player who can bolster their wing options.
Athletic and pacy
Capable of playing on either flank, Brooke-Smith is regarded as an athletic and pacy attacker who can drive forward with the ball, while is also able to operate as a right wing-back.
Certainly he reflects John Mousinho’s desire to add more pace and directness to Pompey wing options in the forthcoming season after last term’s glaring problems over goals and creativity.
The Blues often struggled on the flanks in the injury absences of Josh Murphy and then Keshi Anderson, although playing Adrian Segecic out of position did, to an extent, cushion the blow.
Pompey have so far added Odin Bailey and Eoin Kenny to their ranks since the transfer window opened, with both expected to feature at Woking on Tuesday night (7pm).
Encouragingly, Anderson and Murphy are back in full training following their injury lay-offs and could also feature against the National League side.
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