Portsmouth rivals face huge January battle to keep £8m defender as Sheffield United boss provides transfer update on £10m ace
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey and their Championship rivals.
Championship football is coming thick and fast for Pompey, who are in action in midweek as they make the trip to early-season relegation rivals Swansea City.
A huge week lies ahead for the Blues, who then face 18th-placed Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, with both fixtures pivotal if they want to move out of the relegation zone.
But the January transfer window is now firmly on the horizon, with the clock ticking down towards the New Years’ Day opening.
It’s expected to be a busy period on the south coast as John Mousinho eyes much-needed reinforcements ahead of a huge second-half of the campaign.
Elsewhere, there is plenty of gossip and speculation already doing the rounds across the Championship, with three weeks to go.
Here are the latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s second-tier rivals.
Coventry face battle to keep Bobby Thomas
Coventry City have enjoyed an outstanding start to the new campaign and are runaway leaders at the top of the table.
Having picked up 43 points from their opening 19 matches, members of Frank Lampard’s squad are already attracting interest from the Premier League.
The Sun have claimed Bobby Thomas is one and is believed to be on the radar of a host of top-flight outfits ahead of the January window.
The central defender, who arrived at the CBS Arena for £2m in 2023, has started all but one of the Sky Blues’ Championship fixtures so far, including October’s 2-1 triumph over Pompey.
After Coventry turned down an £8m bid from Sheffield United in the summer, Brentford have since emerged as early favourites for his signature ahead of a potential swoop next month.
The Bees are huge admirers of Thomas after an outstanding start to the season, but face competition from Leeds United and Everton, who are also reportedly interested.
The 24-year-old is set to enter the final 18 months of his deal at the CBS Arena in January, with his current terms set to expire in 2027.
Chris Wilder addresses Tom Cannon speculation
Chris Wilder has reiterated the belief that there will be interest in a number of his players in January, but stressed he would like to keep Tom Cannon despite a tough start to life at Bramall Lane.
The striker, who netted four goals against Pompey on loan for Stoke City last season, made the move to the Steel City for £10m last January.
Since then, the 22-year-old has netted just three goals for the Blades, promoting interest from fellow Championship sides in the summer.
And that much-needed return to form could lead Wilder into keeping the Republic of Ireland frontman next month - and it’s something he would be keen to do,
Speaking to our sister paper, The Star, he said: ‘I think there'll be interest in all our players. There will be questions asked to us, just as much as I'll be asking questions to other football clubs.
‘I want to keep the main actors, and Tom's a main actor for us. I want to keep all those boys. Competition for places at the top of the pitch is key, and I've got options now. I want to keep Pat, I want to keep Jairo. Good competition in the middle of the park.
‘There are some positions where we're a little bit light, and some positions that will be freed up by players going back. So that's where we will try and improve. I wouldn't be surprised if there are calls regarding players, but we need to get stronger. We don't need to weaken the group.’