Portsmouth rivals set to make key decision over future of ex-Manchester United man as Derby County boss responds to Premier League interest
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey and their Championship rivals.
There are less than four weeks to go until the start of the January window and the countdown is on.
With potential arrivals on the cards, the head coach believes departures will be essential to help shape his squad for a crucial second half of the season.
As preparations ramp up on the south coast, Pompey’s Championship rivals will also be on the hunt for new additions in the window, which gets underway on January 1.
Here are the latest transfer headlines from across the second tier.
Hull set to cut Williams ties
Hull City look set to cut ties with former Manchester United man Brandon Williams next month.
It’s been a promising start to the campaign at the MKM Stadium, with the Tigers currently sitting ninth, one point off the play-offs.
The opening four months to the season, though, have been far from ideal for Williams, who has registered just one league appearance to date.
After a trial in the north east during the summer, the left-back was handed a one-year contract by Sergej Jakirovic’s side in August, with the club holding an additional 12-month option.
The ex-Manchester United man is firmly down the pecking order with the Tigers, who have Ryan Giles as first-choice left-back
With his sole outing coming from the bench in August, Williams hasn’t been seen in action since and was left out of the Tigers’ 20-man squad for last month’s 3-2 triumph over Pompey.
Derby face keeper battle
Derby County boss John Eustace has welcomed interest in Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
The Swedish international was last week linked with a move to Nottingham Forest, with reports claiming the Premier League outfit are keen on a January swoop.
The keeper has started all 18 of the Rams Championship matches this season, solidifying his spot as number one at Pride Park.
And after appearing on the Premier League radar, Eustace is pleased with the attention his players are getting after a strong start to the campaign.
He told the Derbyshire Live: ‘I expect interest in a lot of the players. They're all playing very well. Jacob's a good young goalkeeper and he's a player that we certainly don't want to lose.
‘We've got him now playing for Sweden as well and the work that Paul Clements has done with him, Josh (Vickers) and Richard (O'Donnell) has been sensational really.
‘We've got a really top goalkeeping coach at the club, and he's helping develop all the young goalkeepers and the old ones.’