£4.3m former Portsmouth and Rangers target completes surprise switch as Frank Lampard sanctions Coventry City exit
Winger Jahnoah Markelo was a player wanted by Pompey in the January transfer window.
Former Pompey target Jahnoah Markelo has left Coventry City on a permanent basis.
And the winger, who was heavily linked with a switch to Fratton Park, has sealed a surprise switch to the middle east - just months after the Sky Blues fended off John Mousinho’s men to the forward’s signature.
A move to PO4 never came to fruition, with Frank Lampard’s side flexing their financial muscle to land Markelo in a £4.3m deal from FC Zurich.
In fact, the Surinamese talent registered just 36 minutes of Championship action during his six-month stay with Coventry, who raced to the second-tier title.
Following their Premier League promotion, Markelo was subsequently given the green light to depart the West Midlands this summer, with Rangers reportedly in talks to land the wide man on loan last month.
However, the ex-Pompey target has since sealed a permanent exit, joining UAE Pro League side Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai.
The Sky Blues confirmed the 23-year-old’s short time at the CBS Arena is now over, completing the move for an undisclosed fee.
It brings a disappointing end to his short time with Lampard’s men, who are now preparing for top-flight football for the first time in 30 years.
Pompey’s interest in Jahnoah Markelo
Markelo emerged as a Pompey target early in the January window as Mousinho attempted to bolster his wide ranks.
The young talent was being eyed by the Blues after a strong start to the campaign with FC Zurich, where he collected five goal contributions in 14 Swiss Super League appearances.
Injuries to the likes of Harvey Blair, Josh Murphy, Florian Bianchini, Franco Umeh forced Mousinho’s men to delve into the market, with Keshi Anderson instead arriving on a free transfer from Birmingham City.
Markelo, meanwhile, completed his switch to English football, with Coventry moving late in the window to secure the Surinamese winger in a £4.3m agreement.
Pompey winger drive in summer window
Pompey are once again in the market for wingers this summer ahead of the new Championship campaign.
A swoop for Kamara comes two years after his brilliant Fratton Park loan stay, where he netted 10 goals and collected 11 assists as Mousinho’s men secured the League One title.
Meanwhile, Kavuma-McQueen is expected to join Kamara through the doors on the south coast in the coming days.
The 17-year-old talent is close to penning a season-long loan deal from Chelsea and is poised to offer plenty of versatility to Mousinho’s frontline.
Pompey were forced to start with Adrian Segecic on the right and 18-year-old summer arrival Luke Brooke-Smith in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to West Ham, with Murphy, Anderson, Blair and Umeh all sidelined through injury.