Portsmouth boss’ free agent stance after Brighton favourite Solly March’s emergence as option amid Charlton Athletic interest
Discussions over the Premier League man and Brighton favourite arriving at Pompey’s Hilsea training base are understood to have taken place.
John Mousinho is ready to run the rule over potential free agent options by opening the door to them linking up with Pompey.
But former Brighton favourite Solly March is unlikely to be a consideration on that front, after his name surfaced as a potential option to train with Mousinho’s first-team group.
Discussions took place over Brighton favourite linking up with Pompey
The News understands talks took place over the Premier League operator arriving at the Blues’ Hilsea training base, in the wake of being released by the Seagulls this summer.
That prospect never got off the ground, however, with the 32-year-old now close to agreeing a deal with Championship rivals Charlton Athletic.
Mousinho confirmed the position on March to The News today, with two spaces now open in his 25-man squad and those berths earmarked for Josh Murphy and Connor Ogilvie.
When asked about March, Mousinho said: ‘He’s not been training with us.
‘Obviously he’s an excellent, excellent player but it’s not one that’s come on to my radar. Again, with the squad numbers, it’s just one that we wouldn’t be able to do.’
March’s name surfacing follows Mousinho confirming he’d be open to allowing former Fratton favourite Adam Webster to link up with his squad.
The 31-year-old is currently working with an unnamed under-21 side, after making his return from a serious knee injury and also exiting Brighton.
Mousinho admitted, however, the reality is Pompey are currently training to any great extent, as they negotiate the recovery and preparation for five games across the period of 13 days.
When asked about free agents training with his squad, Mousinho said: ‘Yes, we’re not completely against it at all.
‘It depends what the purpose is, that’s where we’ve tried to be in the past.
‘It hasn’t been a question that’s been asked of me. I’m open to it, but it just depends what it looks like.
‘We’re not training at the moment anyway, we haven’t been training since the international break.
‘We’ll do some training today, but that will be to give the likes of Wadds (Waddingham) an extra session on the grass today and the likes of Eoin (Kenny) - but there’s not many that are actually out there.
‘So it’s always a possibility, I’d never say never, but at the moment it’s just where it is with the squad.’