‘Passionate about spending more money’: Portsmouth boss’ transfer statement of intent as cash is splashed
Multi-million pound Pompey deals are lined up, generating excitement among the Fratton Faithful. John Mousinho discusses a new era of increased transfer spending under the Eisners.
John Mousinho insisted Pompey are set on loosening the purse strings this summer as they pursue a string of eye-catching deals.
But the Blues boss insisted his club will do so in a considered fashion, as they move up the Championship spending table.
Pompey boss Mousinho: ‘We’re passionate about spending more money’
There’s excitement among the Fratton Faithful as a string of multi-million pound deals are sought, with a clear intent to progress in a third season in the second tier.
Reports emerged this afternoon that a whopping £5.1m deal is in place with UD Almeria for striker Marko Milovanović.
That supersedes all the previous figures mentioned as talks took place with Pompey and the Segunda Division outfit, with other sides across Europe keen on the Serbian powerhouse.
Meanwhile, Pompey have agreed a fee with Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad FK for Rocco Shein, with discussions reportedly focussed on finding common ground on the size of the sell-on fee in the deal.
Abu Kamara is also a wanted man back at Fratton Park, two years on from moving to Hull City in a deal which reportedly could’ve risen to £4.5m.
Midfielders Mate Tuboly and Jesper Ceesay are other names in the mix, with free agent Odin Bailey in the building and a move said to be close for Northern Ireland starlet Eoin Kenny.
The fees being mentioned with Pompey blow away those previously spent in the nine years Michael Eisner has been the club’s owner.
But Mousinho hinted at those figures balancing up against a sensible commitment to wages, which doesn’t overburden the club.
That would align with his statement that the playing budget is increasing by 16 per cent next term, which is in line with the rate of increase at most Championship clubs not in receipt of parachute payments.
Mousinho said: ‘We’re passionate about spending more money if we can.
‘We’re doing it the right way and doing it without putting ourselves in financial difficulty, or difficulty as a football club by doing the wrong things.
‘We want to sign players, but players on big contracts who don’t deserve it are not worth it.
‘So we have to get that right and, for me, it’s always been about it being a culmination of spending money on fees and spending money on wages - and then underpinning that with everything else we do as a football club.
‘It’s absolutely pointless having money to spend if you don’t do it the right way.’