Portsmouth boss’ transfer clue as January window player chase continues
The latest from the Pompey boss on his club’s January transfer window player hunt and what’s required in new signings before 7pm on February 2.
John Mousinho revealed why Pompey’s January transfer chase may move away from the continent.
The Blues boss insisted the winter window recruitment drive has to return players who can immediately deliver in the Championship.
Mousinho: ‘Players who can have an impact straightaway’
And that demand casts doubt on landing overseas signings, who will require a bedding-in period to adjust to the demands of second-tier English football.
Pompey are pushing on with their player hunt, with Mousinho looking for up to six signings before the close of business at 7pm on February 2.
Three players are through the door so far, with Millenic Alli the first addition - followed by the captures of Ebou Adams and Keshi Anderson. All three of those players have experience at Championship level and know all about the demands of the level.
Pompey have been linked with players from France, Switzerland and Poland this month, with the likes of Ousmane Sow, Jahnoah Markelo and Nesta Elphege on the recruitment team’s radar.
Sow moved to Danish side Brondby and Markelo looks to be beyond the Blues’ reach financially, with a bid tabled for Grenoble striker Elphege.
There appears to be reservations over what would likely be a period of adjustment for the 6ft 4in powerhouse, if Elphege is to arrive at PO4.
That’s something Mousinho has made clear Pompey can ill afford, when they are scrapping for points in their bid for Championship survival.
The Blues boss made it apparent his club aren’t exclusively looking for players with Championship experience, though they have to have the qualities to be able hit the ground running.
That’s the case with Dundee defender Luke Graham, who Pompey have made a bid for and remain keen on along with Sheffield United and QPR.
Mousinho gave an insight into his and the club’s thinking with 10 days of the transfer window remaining.
He said: ‘It’s a bit easier in January (to focus on targets), because the players we sign in the summer have a six-week pre-season and a bit of time to bed in.
‘Then there’s three international breaks before Christmas, but we don’t have that time to adjust in January.
‘If we had a player come in and need a six-week adjustment period, that’s no good for us.
Pompey boss: ‘It’s about quickly adjusting to the level.
‘They could be really good players from the continent who take time to adjust to the pace of the league.
‘This league is relentless and the pace of games is relentless.
‘I go to some Championship games in the stands and you see the space and think things are moving slowly. Then you get down to the touchline and it’s a different story. Some of the athleticism we were up against at Watford was frightening, but we dealt with it really well.
‘So it’s about quickly adjusting to the level and sometimes there’s more obvious ones to do that.
‘Look at Ebou who’s been playing at a high level in the Championship, he hasn’t taken any adjustment at all.
‘It’s less Championship experience and more players who can have an impact straightaway. Sometimes Championship experience helps, sometimes it doesn’t.
‘We’ve tried to add that to the squad and have good Championship experience in the group, it’s just trying to get that balance right.’