Exclusive:Stoke eye in-demand Portsmouth boss John Mousinho amid fading Bristol City interest
The former Premier League club finished a disappointing 17th in the Championship this season
John Mousinho is on Stoke’s radar as they weigh up the future of Mark Robins.
Pompey’s in-demand boss has already attracted attention from Bristol City this summer, who tried to tempt him away from Fratton Park on two previous occasions.
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The Robins’ long-standing interest, though, appears to have now cooled, with Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick the latest to be linked with the Ashton Gate vacancy, much to the relief of the Fratton faithful.
However, Mousinho is also being monitored by Stoke, following a disappointing season which saw them finish 17th.
The News understands the Potters are the identity of the unnamed second Championship club which have been tracking Pompey’s head coach, as revealed on Saturday.
Under pressure in the Potteries
Although Robins remains manager, his ongoing presence has come under increased scrutiny, with Stoke supporters unhappy over the club’s performance in the 2025-26 campaign.
Likewise, their former playing favourite Jon Walters is also under pressure over the club’s perceived lack of progress since his appointment as sporting director in April 2024.
He is also known to be an admirer of Mousinho, having been impressed with how the head coach has now masterminded two successful relegation battles, despite being armed with one of the lowest budgets in the Championship.
Ironically, Pompey won 3-1 at Stoke in their penultimate game of the season last month, with the hosts booed off at the final whistle after being destroyed by an Adrian Segecic hat-trick.
Afterwards, Robins had to fend off a string of post-match questions from local media over his future, yet came out fighting, insisting he remained the right man for the job.
The Potters ended up finishing just one place above the Blues, courtesy of goal difference, as Mousinho masterminded a strong end to the campaign, including securing Championship safety.
As it stands, however, Robins continues to be Stoke boss - and likewise Mousinho remains at Fratton Park.
Pompey: No approach for Mousinho
Yet should Bristol City decide to appoint another candidate ahead of Mousinho, as appears to be the case at present, other interest remains in the form of Stoke.
It continues to be a developing situation for the Blues boss, who has consistently overachieved at Fratton Park since his appointment as Danny Cowley’s replacement in January 2023.
And that excellent work has caught the eye of other Championship clubs since the season ended, despite being contract with Pompey for another two years.