Gustavo Caballero's future set to be decided with Portsmouth keen on Fratton return
Reports in South America have provided an update on the future of Paraguay international Gustavo Caballero - and Brazilian giants Santos’ plans for the winger wanted by Pompey.
Gustavo Caballero’s football destiny is set to be decided in the coming weeks.
Pompey are keen on bringing the winger back to Fratton Park next season, as they continue putting their transfer plans in place ahead of the window opening next week.
Santos set to decide Caballero’s future on World Cup form
But it’s the Blues winger’s parent club, Santos, who hold all the cards over what lies ahead for Caballero this summer.
And they are set to use the World Cup as a barometer for deciding the pathway ahead for the 24-year-old, according to reports in South America.
Caballero signed a four-year deal when moving to the Brazilian giants from Nacional Asunción last year, as they acquired 50 per cent of the player’s economic rights for a reported £1.2m.
He spent the second half of the season at Fratton Park, where he made a solid contribution to Championship survival and showed some signs of being able to adapt to the demands of the English game.
Mousinho has publicly spoken of being open to bringing in the Paraguay international for the long term, making it clear they want to pursue a deal at the right price - with their exclusive option to sign Caballero now expired.
But it appears Santos have not yet decided if they are prepared to let their player leave permanently in the summer window, according to RTI Esporte.
The Alvinegro are set to assess their player in the coming weeks, with Caballero’s campaign kicking off against USA on Saturday.
They know a strong World Cup from Caballero will drive up his market value, with there already Championship and Scottish interest in the player who would’ve cost Pompey £2.5m if they’d taken up their option.
Everyone associated with the player will be hoping for tournament involvement in North America, with those chances potentially improved by an injury to Paraguay’s star man Julio Enciso against Nicaragua on Friday.
The former Brighton man was forced off with a muscular issue, with Caballero potentially able to fill his spot in Gustavo Alfaro’s side.
Enciso is a big doubt for the US game, but did some light training this morning away from the rest of the Paraguay squad.
It’s been a hurtling international emergence for Caballero, who is pinching himself at his World Cup involvement and thankful to Pompey for their role in that happening.
He told Unicanal on Saturday: ‘It all started by looking for opportunity and continuity outside of what Santos was.
‘I went in search of that, but being honest I went to get continuity - well, thank god, that led me to being part of the list of 26 players. I'm really very happy about that.
‘I'm not coming down yet, that's the truth I'm not falling yet!
‘Once we set foot there in the United States, we are going to measure everything that this is because it is something very big.
‘So I think that once we are there we will see the size of everything.’