Former Portsmouth favourite delivers surprise Conor Chaplin verdict with ex-Ipswich Town man in search of new club

Pompey should not sign free-agent Conor Chaplin this summer.

That’s the clear verdict of former Fratton favourite Gareth Evans, who is adamant the Blues should focus their recruitment drive away from the popular 29-year-old.

The attacker, who was released by Ipswich Town earlier this month, spent the campaign on loan at PO4 after sealing his emotional homecoming last September.

But his stint was far from a success, with Chaplin struggling for form and confidence as he yielded a return of two goals and three assists in 37 appearances.

Following the conclusion of his season-long loan on the south coast, the Fratton Park academy graduate departed the Tractor Boys, who opted against extending his five-year stay at Portman Road.

And despite the forward becoming a free agent this summer, Evans, who is a good friend and former teammate of Chaplin, is adamant Pompey should turn their attention elsewhere in the forward department during the upcoming transfer window.

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Conor Chaplin verdict delivered after Ipswich Town release

He told The News: ‘I love Chappers. He’s a good mate, I’ve played a lot of football with him, I speak to him now on a regular basis but I wouldn’t sign him, no.

‘That’s not me being harsh on Conor Chaplin, I think he’s a great lad and put absolutely everything into the football club.

‘I just don’t think where Portsmouth Football Club is at this moment in time suits Conor Chaplin. I think Pompey for the majority of time they’ve been in the Championship the last couple of seasons, the game plan they’ve had to employ just hasn’t suited Conor.

‘Especially away from home where it’s very much a low block and hit teams on the counter attack. Even at home at times, it’s been a mid-block where you try and turn the ball over, get it out wide and get balls into the box.

‘That’s pretty much been part of the game plan for Pompey this last season and that sort of football just doesn’t suit Conor Chaplin.

‘We saw how productive he was playing at Ipswich in a possession-based team that dominates the football and he can find pockets of space, get the ball out wide and then get it again in another pocket of space and shoot.

‘Those patterns of play don’t tend to happen at Pompey with where the football club is at.

‘It’s not a slant on Conor Chaplin as a footballer because he’s absolutely fantastic and achieved way more than I ever achieved in my career so there’s no way I could ever be critical of him.

‘But I just think with the attributes he possesses, he needs to play for a possession-based team that Pompey aren’t at this moment in time.’

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