Portsmouth rivals plotting ambitious Bristol City raid as Championship trio eye Premier League talent
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Pompey have been busy this summer as John Mousinho primes his squad for the new Championship campaign.
Following the arrivals of Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Rocco Shein, Marko Milovanovic, Daniel Bielica and Luke Brooke-Smith, the Blues have delved into the market to recruit two fresh faces ahead of Saturday’s opener against QPR.
Abu Kamara completed his emotional Fratton Park homecoming on Monday in a £2.5m capture from Hull City, before defender Benjy Arthur penned a season-long loan deal from Brentford.
There’s still plenty of business to be done, with Chelsea starlet Ryan Kavuma-McQueen closing on his temporary switch from Stamford Bridge.
Transfer activity isn’t expected to slow down, though, with incomings and outgoings poised to take place in the final weeks of the summer window, which closes on September 2.
Elsewhere, gossip and speculation continues to do the rounds across the Championship as clubs zero in on potential targets.
Here are the latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s second-tier rivals.
Birmingham prepare Robins raid
Birmingham City are preparing a move for Bristol City midfielder Max Bird, according to new reports.
The Blues are readying themselves for their second-successive Championship campaign and are looking to improve on their 10th-placed finish last term.
Chris Davies’ side have already added Jhon Solis in a £6m capture from Girona, £2.1m signing Luis Vazquez from Anderlecht, defenders Kristoffer Lund and Dael Fry as well as the loan arrival of James Beadle.
The Welshman is still looking to bolster his ranks in the final weeks of the market, with Bird identified as a key midfield target this summer.
Birmingham Live have claimed the 25-year-old is a top candidate to fill the vacancy in the Birmingham boss’ engine room during the window.
The report states the Blues are long-term admirers in the playmaker, who is heading into the final 12 months of his current Ashton Gate terms.
This could pave the way for a cut-price deal before the September 2 deadline, with Davies looking to strike an agreement following a recent injury to Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Bird has netted three goals and registered nine assists, of which one came against Pompey in December 2024, for the Robins since his 2024 arrival from Derby County.
Mousinho’s men make the trip to Ashton Gate on August 28, with all eyes on whether the versatile midfielder will still be in Michael Skubala’s ranks.
Championship trio chase Hull City defender
Millwall are among the Championship clubs interested in Hull City defender Cody Drameh.
That’s according to Sky Sports, who have revealed the Lions are eyeing the right-back this summer following the Tigers’ promotion to the Premier League.
Alex Neil’s side are not alone in their chase, with the same report stating Stoke City and Preston North End also have 24-year-old on their transfer radar.
Drameh’s future is under the spotlight this summer after Hull secured top-flight football for the first time in nine years in May.
Sergej Jakirovic’s side were reportedly willing to listen to offers for the out-of-favour full-back in January, with their position still the same in the current window.
The former Birmingham City, Fulham and Luton Town man has had an injury-hit two-year stay at the MKM Stadium, amassing 55 appearances in all competitions following his 2024 arrival from Leeds United.
Drameh’s exit would represent the latest departure from the north east this summer, following the high-profile losses of Kamara to Pompey, Ivor Pandur and Kyle Joseph.