'Very close': Portsmouth boss John Mousinho's transfer admission as Blues close in on sixth summer signing
The Blues have made five signings so far in the summer transfer window
John Mousinho has admitted Pompey are ‘very close’ to unveiling their sixth signing of the summer.
And The News understands it will be New Zealand international Luke Brooke-Smith.
The Blues slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Wycombe in their latest pre-season friendly, although recent recruits Marko Milovanovic and Daniel Bielica did not feature.
Milovanovic wasn’t included in the squad, while Bielica was unused off the bench at Adams Park along with Ben Killip as Nicolas Schmid was handed the full 90 minutes.
Now attention turns to further signings and, as previously revealed by The News, Brooke-Smith is heading to Fratton Park from Wellington Phoenix.
Mousinho wasn’t revealing names, but confirmed another recruit was imminent - to join Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Rocco Shein, Milovanovic and Bielica.
Pompey’s head coach told The News: ‘We are very close on one and then we’re back to work to try to strengthen as we think.
‘It’s pretty close, I think (it will happen in) the next couple of days.’
Triallist Arvin Appiah again featured for the Blues at Wycombe, being introduced at half-time as the former Nottingham Forest left-back bids to win a permanent deal.
However, Marlon Pack, Josh Murphy, Keshi Anderson, Jacob Farrell, Franco Umeh, Mark Kosznovszky and Tayo Singerr again missed out through injury.
In terms of wing options, the Blues are particularly restricted at present, with the incoming arrival of Brooke-Smith set to boost declining numbers.
While Harvey Blair featured against Wycombe, Mousinho was without Murphy, Anderson and Umeh, while didn’t call upon Academy attacker Brandon Downey against the Chairboys.
However, Kenny did shine on the right flank and was part of the Blues’ rare best moments in the 3-1 loss.