‘Offers from other Championship clubs’: Portsmouth boss’ stance on out-of-contract quartet
The latest from the Pompey boss today on the futures of Marlon Pack, Zak Swanson, Connor Ogilvie and Andre Dozzell.
Pompey retaining their Championship status strengthens their hand over keeping their key out-of-contract quartet.
That’s the belief of John Mousinho, who acknowledged Marlon Pack, Connor Ogilvie, Zak Swanson and Andre Dozzell are certain to have other second-tier offers as talks continue over them staying at Fratton Park.
Mousinho on quartet: ‘I’m sure they have offers from Championship clubs’
The four first-teamers are among seven men whose deals come to a close this summer, along with Jordan Archer, Reuben Swann and Harry Clout.
Discussions are taking place with all of those senior figures, though there is yet to be confirmation of agreements being finalised.
Pompey sealed their place in the Championship for a third campaign on Tuesday night, with Oxford United’s defeat to Wrexham the key result after three huge wins in eight days against Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Leicester.
Mousinho made it clear he felt Pack was staying on board regardless of the division the Blues are playing in next term, but sees that news helping in talks with Ogilvie, Swanson and Dozzell.
That’s with all three men playing the best football of their careers and certain to have alternative Championship options as a result.
Mousinho said: ‘I think we become a bit more of an attractive prospect for them by staying in the division.
‘One of my worries over out-of-contract players if we hadn’t stayed in the league would be they would’ve had other offers from Championship clubs.
‘I’m sure they still have offers from other Championship clubs, because there aren’t many free agents.
‘But with the lads we’re speaking to at the moment, I think there is advantages to them staying here at the moment.
‘They know me - which may be a disadvantage actually! There’s advantages to them staying here, though.
‘If you look at the four players, there’s Marlon who I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t at the football club next season - and I’d be gutted if he wasn’t.
‘Zak is playing the best football of his career, Connor Ogilvie is playing the best football of his career and so is Doz.
‘I think there’s a lot to be said for that and there’s a lot to be said that they know what we can achieve here. There’s a lot of unknowns going to other football clubs.
‘I know there will be other factors, but I hopefully speak for the three of them there. I’d take Marlon out of that though, because that’s slightly different.’