Exclusive:Portsmouth Q&A with Jordan Cross: Transfer spending levels, Colby Bishop’s future, Abu Kamara move and much more
The levels of transfer spending to expect this summer, interest in Abu Kamara plus the futures of Adrian Segecic and Colby Bishop - it’s all in our latest Pompey Q&A!
Will Pompey be signing anymore League One free transfers - or will we see any real ambition? @petestaxi
Now Pete, that’s not the tone I would’ve expected for the current mood regarding Pompey and this summer’s transfer activity!
Okay, as things stand, Odin Bailey is the only done deal and is indeed a free transfer from League One Stockport County. That looks a solid piece of business, however, and I wouldn’t necessarily be expecting the forward-thinking midfielder to start 46 games next season.
But that deal must be taken in context against the recruitment work Pompey are carrying out, which surely must show their transfer intent to even the hardest Blues cynic!
Yes, we can keep a lid on the excitement until the deals are done, but the reality is we are going to see fees spent in the coming weeks and months we haven’t witnessed since the club were in the Premier League.
The big one looks to be Marko Milovanović, with all the figures mentioned to me representing a 17-year high for Pompey.
But the €6m reported at the weekend tops even those numbers. Whatever the fee ends up being, it’s clear the bar has been significantly raised.
Meanwhile £2.1m has been touted as the price for Rocco Shein who is on his way. Interestingly, I’ve heard some noise that number could be conservative.
Shein is believed to be earning wages of £11,000 per week, which suggests Pompey are trying to develop their transfer policy sustainably - by not being saddled with big wage commitments.
John Mousinho has confirmed the playing budget is going up by 16 per cent, so Pompey will move up the Championship spending order, but not sky-rocket up that table.
My understanding is the transfer budget is going to be multiplied from what we saw last year, however, and that is something to be encouraged about.
Will Adrian Segecic be here next season? Martin Oliver
There’s interest in Segecic including from the Premier League, which some people find hard to believe.
It’s probably worth noting because a top-flight side are showing they are keen on Pompey’s top scorer that doesn’t mean he’s going to play every week in the top flight, in the event of him leaving. They would be clearly investing in potential.
Anyway, those who took that stance also missed the crux of the update - Segecic is very happy staying at Fratton Park!
My understanding is he’s perfectly content to stay put and loves life in the city, though if anyone was to table a £4m-£5m bid this summer that would make Pompey sit up and take notice.
No one has come in with firm interest for Segecic, however, and if things stay that way the hope will be the 22-year-old can thrive in his preferred No10 role next season and see his value increase.
Regarding Kamara - the talk our end seems to be there might not be much in it? Hull journos and a few independents seem more sure that something is being done. Can you shed any light? Tom Haustead
Hi Tom, yes I can see why you’d have that overview on the Abu talk.
What I’d say is that the reports from Hull arrived from a credible source, and everything I’ve heard points to the interest being legitimate.
I am certainly aware interest from the current football operation in Kamara has never really gone away.
The fact of the matter is that the reported £4.5m fee (with add-ons) paid for the winger two years ago was comfortably more than Pompey’s entire transfer budget. And few argued with him not coming here when that fee was reported.
Two years on, the club’s increasing transfer spending has aligned with Hull being prepared to do business, after reaching the Premier League.
So now, I guess, it’s a case of whether common ground can be found on a fee. To be honest, I’ve tried to make some in-roads on new information at this end without success, as of yet. I’m expecting there to be an update this week, however.
How safe is my son getting Bishop on his shirt? @the_real_gart
Hi Gart, this is an interesting one. It's perhaps a scenario where you need to read between the lines on what’s in the public domain.
We know there’s been a credible report from our sister title the Sheffield Star that Sheffield Wednesday are keen on Bishop.
Since that line emerged we’ve had two updates from John Mousinho - the latest being this afternoon - with the crux being there’s been no official approach for the striker and he wants him to stay.
I really wouldn’t expect the Pompey boss to say anything else, however, but it’s clear there’s going to be striker reinforcements this summer.
A club in Pompey’s position are not going to spend the kind of money reportedly agreed for Marko Milovanović, to see him come in and play second fiddle to another No9.
It’s clear depth is needed in that position and two front-line strikers are required, with perhaps Thomas Waddingham the third option if he can prove himself in pre-season.
So I guess it's a case of Bishop fighting it out with the big Serb, or will all parties feel it’s time to move on?
There’s a lot of mileage in that whole narrative yet this summer, I’m sure, but I’d maybe hold fire on that shirt for now.
Having Schmid, Bursik (currently injured) and Killip, is the club looking for another keeper? I remember previously seeing they like to have four to help with training. I’m certain Steward will be off on loan. @snookerfan123
Yes, you’re correct - Pompey do like to work with four keepers for training purposes.
Last week saw the players back with Toby Steward working with goalkeeper coach Joe Prodomo, Nicolas Schmid, Ben Killip and a triallist - that’s with Bursik injured until late August/September.
So Mousinho's got his four fit keepers to work with when desired at present.
Your inkling over Steward is a good one, but I wouldn’t expect him to go out again until others are in the building and there’s still four keeper options without him around.
We know St Johnstone would want the academy graduate back again and are in the SPL, while I think people Pompey would see League One as the minimum requirement for Steward in the EFL. I put a story out on this subject back in May, which is still relevant.