Report: Portsmouth pull plug on their transfer pursuit of Poland keeper after bids rejected
Pompey’s reported interest in NAC Breda keeper has taken a fresh twist
Pompey have pressed the pause button on their reported pursuit of NAC Breda goalkeeper Daniel Bielica.
According to Dutch journalist Joost Blaauwhof, the Blues have pulled the plug on their interest in the 27-year-old after receiving no encouragement from their Eerste Divisie counterparts following two unsuccessful bids.
However, there is hope a deal can still be resurrected. As a result of Pompey’s decision to look elsewhere, it’s claimed Breda’s valuation of the Polish stopper has suddenly emerged, a figure above €800,000 (around £682,000).
It’s been reported Pompey’s initial bid was €500,000, with a follow-up offer that was significantly higher then tabled. Yet neither approach encouraged the recently-relegated Eredivisie outfit to come to the negotiating table as they maintained their keeper was not for sale.
That’s also despite Bielica indicating to his current employers that he wanted to leave and move to the Championship.
Pompey are, therefore, understood to be weighing up their options elsewhere following Breda’s initial hardball approach that now shows signs of softening.
Austrian Nicolas Schmid remains the Blues’ No1. Yet the Blues are keen to add greater competition to their goalkeeping department that also consists of the currently-injured Josef Bursik and Ben Killip.
Last week highly-rated Toby Steward signed a new three-year deal with Pompey before heading back to the Scottish Premiership side for a second successive season on loan.
Bielica, who has made 66 appearances for NAC Breda following his 2024 move from Gornik Zabrze has a year remaining on his Rat Verlegh Stadion contract.