Dutch forward Jahnoah Markelo has emerged as a target for Pompey during the January transfer window.

Speculation surrounding the future of Pompey target Jahnoah Markelo has intensified over the past 24 hours.

That’s after it emerged the Dutch forward failed to link up with current club FC Zürich for a training camp in Switzerland’s Appenzell Alps this week.

The Swiss Super League is currently on a four-week winter break, with action set to resume next weekend.

In preparation for their game at Servette, FCZ boss Dennis Hediger had team building on the agenda, with curling and Uno some of the activities laid on.

However, winger Markelo - who has emerged as a Blues transfer this month - has been a no-show.

That led to Swiss media outlet Blick enquiring about the 23-year-old’s whereabouts. A club reponse said the player was unable to make a return flight to Zurich at the beginning of the year due to illness.

Yet, on Thursday, Markelo appeared ‘in top form’ on Instagram as he participated in a boxing session in a gym in Amsterdam.

Blick has now reported that the forward’s Instagram account has now been deactivated - but not before he posted a cryptic message that read: ‘News soon.’

Understandably, the whole episode has raised questions about his future at the club, and not for the first time.

Markelo reportedly made no secret of his desire to leave Zürich last summer, when interest from the Championship and the MLS first emerged.

Back then he also went AWOL as he spent days in his home country, before signing a new contract with the club until 2030.

Since then, the right-sided attacker has featured 14 times for FCZ in the league this season, scoring twice and registering three assists as Hediger’s side sit seventh in the table.

His last game came in the 4-2 defeat against Thun on December 20, with Markelo making his playing comeback following a two-match ban for his role in ugly scenes at the end of the Zürich derby against Grasshoppers.

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Pompey want right-winger in January

Pompey have Markelo on their transfer radar this month as they look to bolster their attacking options for the second half of the season.

The right-wing position has proven problematic for John Mousinho’s side this term, with the Blues yet to find a successor to Matt Ritchie in that department.

However, The News understands Pompey are going to have to come up with a significant financial package that would tempt FC into selling, regardless of the player’s reported actions this week. The Blues’ willingness to do so, looks set to ultimately decide whether their admiration for the left-footer will materialise into a concrete move in the January transfer window.

Since joining FC Zürich from NK Celje in 2024, the former Ajax youth-team players has made 42 appearances and registered 14 goal contributions.

Here’s valued at €1.5m on flashscore.co.uk.

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