Portsmouth boss outlines challenges as Rocco Shein and Marko Milovanović deals pursued
The Pompey boss gives an insight into doing deals on the continent, as his side pursue agreements for Rocco Shein and Marko Milovanović.
John Mousinho has detailed the hurdles Pompey must overcome as they look to hike their transfer spending on the continent.
But the Blues boss believes his club’s now accustomed to looking to foreign markets and dealing with the challenges that emerge from doing so.
Mousinho: European market ‘not something that’s new to us’
Pompey are aiming to up their transfer spending, as they close in on a landmark deal for Estonia international Rocco Shein.
A £2.1m fee and personal terms are settled for the player, with the agreement’s details being thrashed out in what will be a landmark transfer.
Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing over a £3.5m move for Serbia striker Marko Milovanović, who would raise the bar as the highest fee paid for a Pompey player in 17 years.
Looking to Europe for summer additions will allow for more achievable value, given that spending increased at the Championship level last summer.
However, there are other issues with dealing on the continent, with Mousinho highlighting a club's valuation of a player can inflate when Pompey shows interest.
European deals can also involve more third parties, potentially complicating transfers as a result.
Mousinho feels these are issues Pompey can and have adapted to, however, as they cast the net wide for incoming players.
He said: ‘The European market can be more difficult, but it’s something we’ve got to get used to - and it’s something we’re used to now.
‘We’ve carried out foreign transfers over the past couple of seasons, it’s not something that’s new to us.
‘We’ve done a few now and players from Australia.
‘The European market is different, there are times when you have two or three agents involved and you have to work together.
‘Or sometimes there’s a mandate on a player (to sell him), but it can be a bit more difficult.
‘Sometimes the second you pick up the phone to a European club and they realise it’s a Championship club, the price goes through the roof. That can often happen with a player
Speaking to The News earlier this week, Mousinho highlighted how simply upping the level of player Pompey are pursuing can complicate transfers.
He added: 'I want signings through the door yesterday.
‘If you ask me my ideal situation it’s to have all my players in for the first day of pre-season training.
‘Then it’s to have all the players we don’t want here out, but it just doesn’t happen that way and it hasn’t happened that way.
‘The World Cup has made this summer a little bit slower for whatever reason.
‘Unfortunately for us, the players we want to sign are sometimes premium signings.
‘There’s a huge amount of competition and work to do and, as a result, you sometimes have to wait.
‘The players are in a good position and they’re not in a rush to do anything. They are happy to wait, so we have to wait as well.'