Championship rivals plot Bolton swoop ahead of Portsmouth contest as Southampton suffer blow over £30m defender
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
It was a disappointing start to the new Championship campaign for Pompey, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to QPR on Saturday.
Seven of the Blues’ nine summer signings featured on the opening day, with Rocco Shein, Abu Kamara and Luke Brooke-Smith all starting, while Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Odin Bailey, Marko Milovanovic and Benjy Arthur all appeared from the bench.
Further additions are expected this week as John Mousinho looks to bolster his ranks as the window heads towards its climax.
While attention is focused on incomings, the Blues are looking to offload a number of players before the market’s closure to free up space in the squad.
Elsewhere, gossip and speculation remains rife across the Championship as clubs continue their summer spending.
Here are the latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s second-tier rivals.
Southampton defender’s stance amid Benfica interest
Taylor Harwood-Bellis has told Southampton he wants to leave St Mary’s before the end of the window, according to reports.
The centre-back is wanted on the continent this summer following Tonda Eckert’s side’s failure to return to the Premier League last season.
Pompey’s rivals were, of course, thrown out of the play-offs after the spygate scandal in May and have since been handed a four-point deduction for the new campaign.
Harwood-Bellis is of interest to Benfica, with the Portuguese outfit believed to have had a £17m bid rejected for his services last week.
Southampton reportedly value the one-cap England international at £30m and are willing to hold firm amid growing interest.
However, a fresh report from Portuguese news outlet Correio Da Manha has claimed the 24-year-old has told the club of his desire to leave and join Benfica before the September 1 deadline.
Marco Silva’s side are expected to ramp up their pursuit this week, with a fresh offer believed to be in the works in a bid to land Harwood-Bellis, who played the full 90 minutes of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Watford.
It remains to be seen whether the Liga Portugal outfit will meet their valuation for the defender, who joined on a permanent basis from Manchester City for £20m in 2024.
During his two stints at St Mary’s, the centre-back has amassed 134 appearances in all competitions, which also included outings against Pompey in both south-coast derby fixtures last season.
Championship trip eye Bolton man
Cardiff City, Charlton Athletic and Lincoln City are all reportedly eyeing Bolton Wanderers midfielder John McAtee.
Sky Sports have stated the Championship trip have all made enquiries over the 27-year-old, who could depart the Toughsheet Community Stadium this summer.
The report states Pompey’s rivals have all explored the conditions of a potential deal, with the Whites said to be open to listening to potential offers.
Although McAtee started Saturday’s 2-1 opening day triumph, Steven Schumacher is still hoping to bolster his attacking ranks in the final weeks of the window.
This has put the ex-Barnsley man’s future in doubt as he heads into the final 12 months of his current Bolton contract.
The attacker has netted 16 goals and collected nine assists in 89 appearances for the Championship new-boys following his 2024 arrival.
Mousinho’s men, of course, travel to Lincoln City this Saturday bidding to put their opening-day defeat to QPR firmly behind them.