Portsmouth dealt £2m Luke Graham transfer blow as Stoke City win race for Rangers, Derby County and Norwich City target
A transfer blow for Pompey this morning with long-term target Luke Graham set to join Championship rivals, after the Blues agreed a £2m with Dundee for the defender.
Pompey have lost the race to capture Luke Graham at the final hurdle.
The News understands Championship rivals Stoke City are set to land the £2m defender ahead of the Blues.
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Stoke beat Pompey to Graham signature at death with £2m fee agreed
Graham has opted to make a move to the bet365 Stadium after both clubs agreed a fee with Dundee, which would have proved a landmark Fratton transfer.
The deal, which includes add-ons, would have been the most Pompey have paid for a player since 2009 when they were in the Premier League.
Graham has decided to move to the Potters after talks, however, as the decision came down to a head-to-head contest with 43 clubs pursuing the 22-year-old this summer.
The Championship has always been the Scottish under-21 international’s preferred destination, with Scottish giants Rangers also missing out on Graham.
Derby County, Norwich City and Preston North End were among 10 Championship clubs eyeing the player, along with the likes of Schalke, Sturm Graz, Valencia and Red Bull Salzburg from the continent.
But, barring any late hitch, Graham will be playing against Pompey next season in Stoke colours, as he was given clearance to leave Dundee’s Budapest training camp to complete an exit from Den Park.
It’s a blow for John Mousinho’s preparations for the new season, as they pushed hard to land Graham once again after their January pursuit of the rising star.
The £2m agreed fee with Dundee along with their pursuit of a number of other options in the £2-£5m category, is further evidence of the club’s intent to seriously bolster Mousinho’s squad this summer, however.
Pompey are chasing Estonia international Rocco Shein, as they eye a £2.1m deal for the Fredrikstad FK man, with UD Almeria’s powerful Serbia striker Marko Milovanović also wanted man at PO4.
Former Fratton favourite Abu Kamara is wanted this summer, with the former loanee set to leave Hull City after their promotion to the Premier League.
Pompey have also been linked with moves for Gambia midfielder Jesper Ceesay and Hungarian Mate Tuboly.