Portsmouth rivals close in on £3.5m Ipswich Town signing as West Brom finalise £3.1m midfield capture

Pompey are full steam ahead in their recruitment drive as they prepare for the upcoming Championship campaign.

John Mousinho has already added six new faces to his squad during the window, with Rocco Shein, Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Marko Milovanovic, Daniel Bielica and Luke Brooke-Smith arriving through the doors.

That figure is set to increase in the coming days, with reports in Turkey suggesting the Blues have agreed a €1m deal with Super Lig outfit Antalyaspor for midfielder Jesper Ceesay.

The Gambian international is poised to complete his Fratton switch this week as the head coach strengthens his engine room.

Meanwhile, Luke Le Roux will head out of the doors at PO4, with reports in Europe claiming the 26-year-old is weighing up a return to Sweden.

He’s expected to be joined by Ibane Bowat in departing the south coast this summer, with the defender closing in on his exit.

Elsewhere gossip and speculation continues to mount across the Championship as transfer activity ramps up ahead of the new campaign.

Here’s the latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s second-tier rivals.

Stoke City close in on Ipswich Town man

Stoke City have fended off Championship interest to win the race for in-demand Ipswich Town defender Harry Clarke, according to reports.

The Potters were one of four second-tier sides touted with a switch for the right-back, who was free to depart Portman Road following the Tractor Boys’ promotion to the Premier League.

Bristol City, Preston North End and Sheffield United were also touted with the 25-year-old earlier this summer as clubs were put on red alert given his Ipswich situation.

However, Stoke are said to have now secured his services on a permanent basis in an eye-watering £3.5m deal, which will also include add ons.

According to The East Anglian Daily Times, Clarke is closing in on a return to the bet365 Stadium, where he previously enjoyed a successful loan stint in 2023.

His imminent exit will bring an end to his three-year stay at Portman Road, where he amassed 67 appearances in all competitions.

The Tractor Boys were looking to cash in on the full-back this summer as Gary O’Neil primes his squad ahead of their top-flight return, with his deal heading into the final 12 months.

Last season, Clarke spent time on loan with Sheffield United before a spell with Charlton Athletic during the second half of the campaign.

The right-back is set to become the latest big-money addition at the bet365 stadium during the window following the £10m arrival Ethan Galbraith, £2m signing of former Pompey target Luke Graham, £5m capture of Milan Smit, January Blues target Svante Inglesson and ex-Fratton loanee Josh Griffiths.

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West Brom finalise £3m capture

West Brom are reportedly close to finalising a deal for midfielder Felix Horn Myhre.

According to our sister paper, The Express & Star, the Baggies are progressing well in securing the 27-year-old’s services from Norwegian outfit SK Brann.

The report states the midfielder completed his Hawthorns medical on Monday ahead of his imminent switch after saying his farewells during Brann’s stoppage-time victory against Rosenborg.

James Morrison’s side are said to have fended off Spanish outfit Elche to secure Myhre’s signature in a £3.1m agreement.

Mousinho’s men welcome the Baggies to Fratton Park in December ahead of a trip to The Hawthorns in March.

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