Portsmouth boss delivers encouraging transfer update as Blues line up summer business
The Blues have still to register any transfer business since the window opened a fortnight ago
A ‘hopeful’ John Mousinho anticipates new signings will be in place before Pompey depart for their pre-season training camp.
The Blues boss has today delivered the encouraging update on transfer progress, with the window having been open for a fortnight.
Pompey have still to register their first piece of business this summer, yet are strongly pursuing Fredrikstad’s Rocco Shein and Serbian striker Marko Milovanovic.
Certainly Mousinho is optimistic over the possibility of a ‘couple’ of new recruits arriving at Fratton Park over the next week.
That would allow them to attend Pompey’s training camp, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, albeit at a destination the club are keen to keep under wraps.
‘I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple in before the training camp’
Although Mousinho has made it clear that transfer deals are not always under the Blues’ control.
He told The News: ‘I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple in before the training camp. If we don’t, we don’t.
‘We are close, as in we have all decided as recruitment staff which players we’re going to go and target. Then, off the back of that, a lot of that is out of our control.
‘We have player terms, agents, we’ve got the other club to negotiate with as well. We might feel we’re close, but other clubs might feel like they are in no rush to sell a player and respond to it accordingly.
‘Players often have quite a few options as well, so we’ve got to compete with that.
‘We have been absolutely on everything since the back end of last season. In January we had a couple of different strategies - a League One and a Championship one.
‘As soon as we secured our status that night at Coventry, we moved on really quickly. We are constantly working on trying to make that happen.’
Colby Bishop linked with Fratton Park departure
While Pompey need to strengthen their Championship squad, there have also been reports of a potential departure for Colby Bishop.
Mousinho is adamant there has been no approach from Sheffield Wednesday, the club reportedly interested, with the head coach keen for the 29-year-old to remain on the south coast.
Certainly the Blues are hoping to bolster their strike options with the signing of Almeria’s Milovanovic, while they are also closing in on a deal for the highly-regarded midfielder Shein.
As it stands, however, there were no new faces at their Copnor Road training ground on Monday morning for the first full training session of pre-season.
‘It’s not for want of trying’
Intriguingly, there was also no sign of sporting director Rich Hughes as the hunt for new signings continues.
Mousinho added: ‘It's not for want of trying and it’s not for want of work and diligence that we haven’t signed anyone yet.
‘I keep checking every day, there are not that many players who have moved to the Championship yet, not many clubs who have made signings - and that’s just a reflection of the market.’
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