Former Portsmouth man set for £8m Southampton exit as Championship relegation rivals suffer £13m transfer blow
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.
Pompey were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon, falling to a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Attention now turns back to the transfer window for John Mousinho’s men, who are looking to strengthen in a range of areas before the February 2 deadline.
The head coach is looking to add between 3-6 players in the remaining weeks, with potential additions earmarked to arrive through the doors at Fratton Park before this weekend’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
Elsewhere, gossip and speculation is doing the rounds across the Championship as Pompey’s rivals look for improvements this month.
Here are the latest transfer headlines from around the second tier.
Former Pompey man set for shock exit
Former Pompey loanee Gavin Bazunu is poised to seal his departure from Southampton in the January window,
The Republic of Ireland international has been told he is free to leave St Mary’s before the February 2 deadline, with the Saints recruiting Daniel Peretz from Bayern Munich last week.
Indeed, the keeper is believed to now be in talks with Championship rivals Stoke City to complete a loan move on a deal for the remainder of the campaign.
The Irish Independent have revealed Bazunu is closing in on a temporary switch to the Potters, who will have an £8m option to make his stay permanent in the summer.
It looks to bring an end a to frustrating three-and-a-half-year stay with the Blues’ south coast rivals for 23-year-old, who had amassed 97 appearances while also suffering two relegations.
After a brilliant loan stay at Fratton Park during the 2021-22 campaign, the shot stopper completed a £12m move to the Saints from Manchester City in July 2022 and looks set to depart with 18 months currently left on his St Mary’s terms.
Sargent set for Norwich City exit
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Pompey’s Championship relegation rivals Norwich City look set to be dealt a huge blow over star striker Josh Sargent.
The USMNT international has been prolific during his time at Carrow Road, netting 56 goals during a four-and-a-half-year stint.
However, his future has been blown up in the air after head coach Phillipe Clement confirmed the forward made himself unavailable for selection for the Canaries’ FA Cup tie against Walsall on Sunday.
Sergent has recently been linked with a switch to MLS outfit Toronto, who are said to have tabled an eye-watering £13m offer.
Following the 25-year-old's absence, the Norwich boss said: ‘I want to be short about that. He sent me a message yesterday evening that he was not available to play today because of transfer things that are in his head.
‘We need to speak about that this week inside the club, but of course it's not something that you want, and it will be something with consequences.
‘The club has been really clear about that, we know in which situation we are, so he and his agent know the situation, so he will not leave this transfer window.’
The Canaries currently sit 22nd in the Championship standings and just one point behind Pompey and safety.