Portsmouth rivals facing £25m battle for in-demand midfielder as Premier League giants plot £80m West Ham raid
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Action on the transfer front remains quiet at Fratton Park as anticipation grows ahead of the transfer window.
Eight names have so far been linked with a move to PO4 during the off-season, with the likes of Aribim Pepple, Luke Graham and Svante Ingelsson all on the Blues’ radar.
Pompey now know who they will face in the Championship next term, following a weekend full of action in the play-offs and Premier League.
Meanwhile, West Ham’s 14-year top-flight stay came to an end as they suffered relegation alongside Wolves and Burnley.
And with the transfer window less than three weeks away from opening, gossip and speculation is mounting up across the division.
Here are the latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Middlesbrough face £25m battle
Middlesbrough face a huge battle to keep star-midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer.
TEAMtalk have reported Nottingham Forest at stepping up their bid to land the in-demand 23-year-old, with top-flight interest growing in the Boro talent.
It has been suggested Forest have identified the playmaker as an ideal replacement for Elliot Anderson, who could depart the City Ground in the upcoming window.
Vitor Pereira's side are said to be looking to move quickly to land Hackney, who has been scouted by Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Brentford, Everton, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Brighton during the campaign.
Middlesbrough currently value the England youth international at £25m and are braced for interest following their play-off final defeat to Hull City on Saturday.
Hackney netted six goals and collected eight assists in 41 outings for Kim Hellberg’s side last term, but missed Boro’s defeat to Pompey in April.
West Ham braced for exodus after relegation
West Ham are preparing for life back in the Championship following their relegation on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a 3-0 win over Leeds United on the final day, Spurs condemned the Hammers to the second-tier after securing a 1-0 triumph against Everton to ensure they finished two points above the drop zone.
And Nuno Espirito Santos’ side are expected to lose Mateus Fernandes in the coming window, with Premier League sides looking to raid the young playmaker.
A fresh report from the Daily Mail Sport has claimed both Arsenal and Manchester United are tracking the midfielder along with French giants PSG.
It is believed that West Ham would be open to parting with the 21-year-old for £80m as they begin to fund their Championship rebuild.
Fernandes completed a £42m move to the London Stadium from Southampton last August and went on to collect eight goal contributions in 38 appearances.
Pompey will face West Ham in the league for the first time since January 2012 following the Hammers’ relegation over the weekend.