'If that's true...': Portsmouth boss responds to reports of Andre Dozzell joining MLS side DC United
The popular midfielder is out of contract at Fratton Park in the summer and reportedly heading to the MLS
John Mousinho plans to sit down with Andre Dozzell this week to discover whether the midfielder wants a Pompey future.
Reports emerged on Friday night claiming the 26-year-old had agreed a switch to MLS side DC United in the summer at the end of his Fratton Park deal.
The Blues are keen to keep the former Ipswich man, having previously indicated to his advisors they intended to offer a fresh contract once their Championship future was secured.
However, news of a potential switch to the Washington-based club has disappointed Mousinho, who brought Dozzell to the south coast as a free agent in August 2024.
Irrespective of the rumours, the midfielder turned in a strong performance in Pompey’s 3-1 victory at Stoke on Saturday, with Adrian Segecic bagging a hat-trick.
Although, after 79 appearances and four goals for the Blues, the ex-England youth international may well be heading to America at the season’s end.
‘If that’s true, I will be gutted’
Mousinho told The News: ‘I saw the reports on Friday night and deliberately haven’t spoken to Doz about that. I probably will this week and just see what the situation is with that.
‘When reports like that come out, there could be truth. Off the back of the positivity this week, I was never going to pull Doz.
‘If there’s anything in it, you could see how good he is as a professional on Saturday because he didn’t play like he had the handbrake on or as though he had sorted somewhere else out. I thought he was really, really good.
‘So, if there is something in it, we’ll see what that is next week. But it’s the nature of the game in terms of Doz being a free agent and able to speak to foreign clubs.
‘I desperately want to keep him, so if that's true I will be gutted. I will be pleased for Doz in a certain way, but I will be gutted.’
Injured pair left out of Potteries clash
While Dozzell lined up in the centre of midfield, Marlon Pack and Conor Shaughnessy were both left out of the 20-man squad for the Potteries trip, yet still travelled.
Pack, who was also absent from the 5-1 defeat at Coventry in the week, is struggling with a knee issue, while Shaughnessy is presently troubled by a calf issue.
In addition, Ebou Adams dropped to the bench at Stoke, with Mousinho opting to rest the former Derby man having recently returned from a knee injury which had sidelined him for four matches.
Mousinho added: ‘There were a couple enforced changes against Stoke.
‘I know Marlon didn’t start at Coventry, but he has been struggling with his knee, while Conor Shaughnessy has been struggling with his calf a bit. So we took the pair of those out of the squad.
‘Ebou probably rushed himself back a bit from the injury to make sure he could impact us at the back end of the season, so we gave him a rest.’