Portsmouth rivals plotting sensational £5m Wrexham raid as Derby County track Oxford United man
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
The close season is well underway at Fratton Park after the curtain came down on Pompey’s Championship campaign last week.
A final-day draw against Birmingham City ensured John Mousinho’s men finished 18th in the standings and eight points clear of the relegation zone after a sensational run-in.
Attention is now on what is expected to be a hugely-important summer at PO4 as the Blues look to strengthen when the transfer window gets underway next month.
Meanwhile, Andre Dozzell departed the south coast after rejecting fresh terms in order to complete his switch to MLS side DC United.
There’s plenty of gossip and speculation currently doing the rounds across the Championship as clubs begin their transfer window preparations.
Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ second-tier rivals.
Hull City want £5m Wrexham man
Hull City are currently in the midst of a play-off battle after securing a sixth-placed finish on the final day.
The Tigers played out a goalless draw in their first-leg tie against Millwall on Friday before a trip to the capital awaits on Monday in their second-leg showdown.
In the meantime, Sergej Jakirovic’s side have one eye on the summer window, with fresh reports stating they’re looking to raid Championship rivals Wrexham.
Transfer guru Alan Nixon has claimed Hull are plotting a move for midfielder Lewis O’Brien to bolster their engine room.
The 27-year-old enjoyed an impressive maiden campaign at the Racecourse Ground, following a £5m switch from Nottingham Forest.
The playmaker netted four goals and collected seven assists in 38 league outings for Phil Parkinson’s men, who dropped out of the play-offs on the final day in place of the Tigers.
Jakirovic’s side are said to have registered fresh interest in O’Brien, having missed out on his signature 12-months ago.
Hull completed the double over Pompey on their way to a sixth-placed finish with November’s 3-2 victory followed up by a 1-0 win at Fratton Park in February.
Derby County tracking midfielder
Derby County reportedly have Oxford United star Brian De Keersmaecker on their transfer radar.
That’s according to Nixon, who has revealed the Rams are looking to open talks with the midfielder ahead of the summer.
The report suggests there’s expected to be plenty of Championship interest in the Belgian, who impressed in a difficult campaign at the Kassam Stadium.
The U’s suffered relegation back to League One last month after a 22nd-placed finish, which saw them miss out on survival by four points.
De Keersmaecker scored two goals and provided five assists in 26 league outings after Oxford paid a club-record fee to secure his services from Heracles Almelo last summer.
The 26-year-old sat out the U’s Easter Monday draw against Pompey, having missed the final 18 matches due to shoulder surgery.