Portsmouth’s Championship rivals close in on new managerial appointment as Ipswich Town plot £9m summer swoop

Pompey are in Championship action for one final time this weekend as they host mid-table Birmingham City.

Ahead of the final-day showdown, planning is well underway behind the scenes at Fratton Park ahead of what is expected to be a pulsating summer transfer window.

Although John Mousinho’s future is a hot topic of conversation with Bristol City reportedly lurking, talks in the meantime are set to get underway today involving the head coach and the Blues’ hierarchy to discuss budgets, finances and much more.

Eric Eisner has made the trip across the Atlantic for the crunch talks, while chairman Michael Eisner and fellow board members will be connected Stateside.

While preparations for next term on the south coast are already full steam ahead, gossip and speculation across the Championship is heating up as the Blues’ rivals ready themselves for the summer.

Here are the latest transfer headlines doing the rounds across the second-tier.

West Brom close on managerial appointment

West Brom are poised to announce the appointment of James Morrison on a permanent basis.

That’s according to The Telegraph’s John Percy, who has revealed the Baggies are set to offer the 39-year-old the full-time job after an outstanding interim stint.

The former Scotland international took charge at The Hawthorns on a temporary basis in March following the sacking of Eric Ramsay after less than two months.

With West Brom in the heart of a relegation battle alongside Pompey at the time, Morrison subsequently lifted the Baggies away from danger, losing just one of his 11 games in charge to date.

Despite the West Midlands outfit being slapped with a two-point deduction by the EFL for breaching profit and sustainability rules earlier this month, his side now sit four points clear of the bottom three and secured their safety last-time out.

Indeed, the ex-midfielder, who spent 12 years during his playing career at the Hawthorns, is now set to lead the club on a permanent basis heading into next season.

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Ipswich Town plotting £9m move

Ipswich Town have set their sights on Club Brugge winger Mamadou Diakhon, according to reports.

The Tractor Boys are currently in the midst of a three-way battle for automatic promotion heading into the final day.

Kieran McKenna’s side are in pole position going into the season’s climax, with Millwall and Middlesbrough on their tail.

Although Ipswich are yet to discover their destiny for next term, the Portman Road outfit have, though, listed Diakhon as a top target in the summer.

SportsBoom have claimed the Suffolk side are preparing an opening bid of between £9m and £10m for the winger, who is flourishing in Belgium’s top flight.

The report does suggest Premier League duo Everton and Crystal Palace also have the 20-year-old on their radar going into the window.

Diakhon has netted two goals and collected 11 assists in all competitions this term - including four goal contributions in nine Champions League outings to date.

Ipswich currently sit second in the standings but did fall to a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park earlier this month, helping Mousinho’s men on their way to Championship survival.

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