Portsmouth rivals plotting reunion for £10m Sheffield United striker as Championship quartet eye £13m talent
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Pompey’s summer recruitment drive is ramping up, with the new Championship season now firmly in sight.
John Mousinho’s men suffered a 3-1 defeat in their Carabao Cup first round showdown against West Ham on Saturday, kick-starting the 2026-27 campaign.
The makeshift Blues were heavily affected by injury, with a number of key personnel, including Franco Umeh, Harvey Blair, Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson, Marlon Pack and more sidelined for the London Stadium clash.
With their league opener less than a week away, Pompey are looking to bring in fresh faces before QPR visit Fratton Park next Saturday.
Although transfer activity is ramping up on the south coast, gossip and speculation is rife across the Championship as Pompey’s rivals continue their summer spending.
Here are the latest headlines from around the second-tier.
Preston plotting Sheffield United raid
Preston North End have splashed the cash so far this summer as Paul Heckingbottom assembles his new squad.
Following the record signing of Pompey’s Callum Lang in the January window, the Lilywhites have broken their spending record once again, recruiting Alfie Devine from Spurs for £6m.
He has been joined by Jusef Erabi, Lee Nicholls and the £2m capture of Daniel Burgzorg from Middlesbrough as their recruitment drive continues.
But North End are still looking to strengthen and are reportedly targeting a reunion with former striker Tom Cannon this summer.
According to transfer guru Alan Nixon, the Sheffield United talent is on Preston’s radar as Heckingbottom plans to bolster his frontline.
The report suggests the 23-year-old’s future at Bramall Lane remains uncertain, with the Blades potentially open to cashing in during the window.
Following his eye-watering £10m switch to the Steel City from Leicester in January 2025, Cannon has failed to hit the heights many expected - netting seven goals in 54 outings in all competitions.
The Irishman still has two years remaining on his current Sheffield United terms after penning a three-and-a-half-year deal on arrival.
Cannon enjoyed a successful loan stint at Deepdale during the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, scoring eight goals in 20 Championship appearances.
The Fratton faithful will remember the frontman well after striking four times during the Blues’ 6-1 defeat to Stoke City while on loan at the start of the 2024-25 season.
Championship quartet eye £13m man
A quartet of Championship clubs have set their sights on Rennes midfielder Jordan James, according to reports.
Nixon has also revealed, Wolves, West Ham, Burnley and big-spending Middlesbrough are all tracking the in-demand 21-year-old ahead of a potential swoop this summer.
The Wales international has had strong interest throughout the window, with Premier League duo Fulham and Crystal Palace both keen as well as Italian side Atalanta.
James’ stock is at a career high after a brilliant loan stay with Leicester last term, which saw him score 11 Championship goals despite the Foxes’ relegation.
Since his €5m switch from Birmingham City in 2024, the playmaker has featured 24 times in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side - netting on one occasion.
With Rennes reportedly open to a departure, a host of Pompey’s second-tier rivals are said to be queuing up to secure his signature in the final weeks of the window.