LATEST: Portsmouth boss details latest over long-serving favourite’s Fratton future
Pompey’s longest-serving senior squad member is out of contract this summer - here’s the latest on his Fratton future.
Pompey are in talks with Conor Ogilvie over extending his Fratton stay.
And John Mousinho has heralded Ogilvie’s transformation into an established Championship operator, as his form soars this term.
Ogilvie in talks over new Pompey deal
Mousinsho feels the left-sided operator is playing the best football of his career and believes Ogilvie is a ‘dream’ to work with.
Pompey’s longest-serving senior player sees his existing agreement come to a close this summer, but Mousinho has made it clear he wants to see the 30-year-old’s time at PO4 extended into a sixth season.
And the Blues boss confirmed discussions are progressing on that front.
Mousinho said: ‘I’d love to see Connor extend his deal.
‘I think we are in discussions with Connor, but I genuinely have no idea where they are. Deliberately so.
‘That then allows me to have a football-based conversation with Connor, and nothing else - but the club are speaking to his agent to try to get something done.’
Mousinho on Ogilvie: ‘He’s a dream to work with’
Ogilvie now has 186 appearances under his belt at Pompey, after arriving when leaving Gillingham as a free agent in the summer of 2021.
Most of that time has been spent playing at left-back, though Ogilvie has been excellent since moving into the middle of defence last month amid the Blues’ unrelenting injury crisis. Mousinho has no doubts about the level the fans’ favourite is currently operating at.
He added: ‘I hope so (there’s a desire on all sides to conclude a deal). In my opinion, he’s playing the best football of his career.
‘He’s turned himself into a Championship player. He was a Championship left-back, now he looks like he’s turning himself into a Championship centre-back.
‘My hope and desire is with a player like Connor, he knows me and the expectation of the club here.
‘I think he’s playing the best football of his career under the current management team.
‘Sometimes you can get your head turned by something else, but the grass isn’t always greener. Plenty of players here over the years have found that out. It’s a really important part of progressing as a player.
‘I talk to Connor about football, I’m aware of the situation behind the scenes but we don’t have that conversation.
‘I’d describe Connor as low-maintenance and high output: He’s a dream to work with.’