The exciting Hannover 96 and Peterborough United verdicts as Josh Knight closes in on Portsmouth move
Former Leicester City and Peterborough United defender Josh Knight is close to becoming Pompey’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window.
Pompey have been given a number of glowing references over Josh Knight.
The Blues are expected to pay a fee for the Leicester City academy graduate, who still has 12 months remaining on his current deal at the HDI Arena.
After making the move from Peterborough United last summer on a free transfer, Knight featured 24 times for the German second-tier side, but has fallen down the pecking order under new boss Christian Titz.
Now, a move for the centre-back is close to completion, with the ex-Wycombe Wanderers loanee poised to become Pompey’s seventh signing of the summer.
With the Blues closing in on a deal for Knight, we’ve taken a look at what the Fratton faithful can look forward to seeing based off what former managers and sporting directors have said over the soon-to-be Fratton Park defender.
Darren Ferguson at Peterborough
Ferguson worked with Knight during two spells at Peterborough, which saw the 27-year-old amass 161 appearances in all competitions.
And the Posh boss highlighted the central defender’s qualities as a major selling point after sealing his return in 2021.
Ferguson told the official website at the time: ‘He ticks every box and the most pleasing thing for us is that it is a permanent deal. We have had him on a couple of loans before, so it is great to be able to say he is ours.
‘He had good experience with Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship last season, he was their best player and was voted player of the season. That year will stand him in good stead.
‘He predominantly played as a centre half at Wycombe, that is his favoured position so that is the position we are bringing him in as, but I know he can play midfield so that is a bonus. I guess it is very much like Dan Butler who can play as a wing back or as a left-back, he has that flexibility, but Josh wants to play centre half and that gives me good competition.
‘We always wanted to bring another centre half in, and Josh has always been one of the main targets. I know the lad; I know what he is about so for me it is an absolutely no brainer of a signing.
‘The boy is delighted to be back, the lads are also delighted he is back I have to say and another bonus is that he already knows how I want to play. He doesn’t need time to bed in. Josh will come straight into the group, he is as fit as a fiddle.’
Marcus Mann at Hannover 96
Knight completed a free-transfer move to Hannover last summer following the conclusion of his Peterborough deal.
Die Roten sporting director Marcus Mann admitted the ex-Leicester ace was a player the German second-tier side had been tracking for a long period.
He said: ‘We've been following Josh very closely for some time. He initially caught our attention during the scouting process through his stats and stats. The things we saw in the video were subsequently confirmed in the matches we watched in person.
‘Josh is a very complete central defender with strong tackling, good build-up play, and a strong presence in set pieces – both defensively and offensively.
‘We're delighted that we were able to convince him to come to Germany and join Hannover 96.’
Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe Wanderers
Following his first stint with Peterborough, Knight sealed a season-long loan with Championship outfit Wycombe in 2020.
The centre-back impressed in the second-tier at Adams Park and claimed the Chairboys’ Player of the Season accolade. And boss Gareth Ainsworth was impressed with the 27-year-old’s step-up to Championship football.
The former Wycombe boss said in 2021: ‘I thought Josh Knight was really good, very accomplished and he is making the step up to the Championship, Leicester have got a good player on their hands, and hopefully we’ll be able to embed him in like we have done with other players in the past.’