Transfer gossip: Portsmouth hunting former Manchester United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough man in January transfer window
Oxford United are said to be vying for Pompey for the defender, who has emerged as a reported January target.
Pompey are considering a loan move for Northern Ireland international Paddy McNair, according to reports.
The centre-back is said to be on the Blues’ transfer radar in the January window, after John Mousinho confirmed his area of the pitch is a focus for strengthening.
A loan deal could be in the offing for McNair, who is currently plying his trade with MLS outfit San Diego FC.
The 30-year-old is contracted until the end of next year, but with the MLS season at a close is available to pick up game time away from the California outfit.
That is necessary from McNair’s perspective, with his country’s World Cup play-off with Italy on the agenda next March.
Pompey’s Championship relegation rivals Oxford United are also said to be keen on the former Manchester United academy youngster, according to Football League World.
McNair played at the highest level for United and Sunderland, before having a significant stint with Middlesbrough where he made 219 appearances across six years.
The 6ft 2in man moved to San Diego in the summer of 2024 where he has remained since, but now could be set for return to England on a temporary basis.
McNair fits the bill in terms of what Pompey want in terms of him being an experienced Championship operator, with Mousinho confirming today loan signings will be a significant part of his club’s Championship business.
The Blues head coach also told The News today a central defender is on the January shopping list, with Hayden Matthews and Josh Knight both facing lengthy stints on the sidelines.
Long-term defensive injuries sees added transfer focus at back
He said: ‘The centre-half situation is fluid and ongoing, depending on where we are and the strength in depth we have.
‘However, we’ve got two centre-halves out again and we’ve got three that are fit.
‘Connor Ogilvie is coming back in, with the potential to be able to play centre-half, so it’s definitely an area we may look to strengthen.
‘Josh essentially has bone bruising on the back. We were testing that to see how that settled out in the last week and, now that has gone, we’ve had him re-scanned. Underneath that there’s a stress fracture there.
‘That is something we couldn’t initially see on the scan, but now it’s really clear to us and unfortunately that is one of those injuries which just means he’s going to be off his feet for the next 4-6 weeks - and then he’s going to build off the back of that.
‘At the time the symptoms were presented just as a stiff back or sore back and we couldn't actually see he had that stress fracture there.
‘Now things have settled down and we have seen how serious it is. Fair play to Josh for trying to play through that, but we just need a bit of time on the sidelines with him.
‘Hayden is going to be about 8-10 weeks with a very similar injury to what he picked up last year, but he doesn’t require surgery.
‘He injured his ankle in the tackle on the far side at the back end of Bristol City.’