Portsmouth rivals plotting Crystal Palace transfer raid as West Ham close in on £10m Leeds United man
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
It’s expected to be a hectic climax to the transfer window at Fratton Park as Pompey look to wrap up their business
Nine faces have already arrived through the doors at PO4 this summer as John Mousinho assembles his squad for the new Championship campaign.
There is plenty of work still required in the final fortnight of the market, with the head coach targeting at least a further three additions.
Those squad issues were exposed by QPR on the opening day as the Blues fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat on home soil.
Liverpool left-back Luke Chambers has since been linked with a move to the south coast on loan, while Burton Albion attacker Tyrese Shade is also believed to be on Pompey’s radar.
Elsewhere, transfer activity is ramping up as gossip and speculation continues to do the rounds across the Championship.
Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ second-tier rivals.
Wrexham, Burnley eye Crystal Palace talent
Wrexham and Burnley are both interested in Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, according to reports.
Football League World have claimed the Championship duo are eyeing the 23-year-old, who is expected to depart Selhurst Park on loan once again this summer.
Burnley are looking to bolster their wide options, with Marcus Edwards the sole option currently available for Nicky Hayen following their Premier League relegation.
Meanwhile, big-spending Wrexham, who have already splashed the cash to sign Anthony Patterson (£10m), Danny Imray (£5m) and Ben Whiteman (£3m), are also keen on Rak-Sakyi.
Phil Parkinson is ready to turn his transfer attention to the final third in the last two weeks of the window, with the former England youth international on their radar.
Crystal Palace are reportedly willing to sanction another temporary exit for the Selhurst Park youth product, who featured five times in pre-season.
Rak-Sakyi has risen through the ranks in south London and has registered 10 first-team appearances for the Eagles following his 2021 debut.
Despite a brilliant stint on loan with Charlton Athletic during the 2022-23 campaign, where he netted 15 goals and collected eight assists, the winger has struggled to replicate his form in the Championship.
The forward has since spent time with Sheffield United and Turkish side Caykur Rizespor, before spending the second half of last term at Stoke City, where he scored three goals.
Pompey make the trip to Burnley on October 31 before the Blues then visit Wrexham on November 28, with both sides hoping to have Rak-Sakyi in their ranks.
West Ham close in on Leeds man
West Ham are reportedly closing in on their latest summer addition as they prepare for Championship football.
Following the arrivals of Manor Soloman, Joel Veltman, Arne Engels and Keiber Lamadrid, the Hammers are closing in on their fifth signing.
Sky Sports have revealed Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have agreed a deal to sign Leeds United striker Joel Piroe on a season-long loan.
The 27-year-old is expected to undergo a medical in east London on Tuesday ahead of his initial temporary switch, which will also include an obligation to buy next summer.
After joining the Whites in August 2023 for £10m from Swansea, the Suriname international netted 34 goals and provided 10 assists in 118 appearances at Elland Road.
That included a 19-goal haul in Leeds’ Championship 2024-25 title-winning campaign, but struggled in front of goal in the Premier League last term.
Now, a loan move with an obligation to make the move permanent in 12 months time to West Ham is close to completion, with the Hammers targeting an instant return to top-flight football.
Espirito Santo’s side, of course, secured a 3-1 triumph over Mousinho’s men earlier this month in the Carabao Cup first round at the London Stadium.