Exclusive:The inside track on players linked with Portsmouth this summer
The list of names being linked with Pompey continues to grow. Here’s how things stand over those ‘transfer targets’ to surface so far.
The emergence of Josh Key’s name among the transfer tittle-tattle makes it 13 players linked with Pompey this summer.
Among those touted to be at Fratton Park next term there will be names with credence while others, well, perhaps less so.
The News has it’s ear to ground on transfer gems and imposters
As agents manoeuvre players towards moves or try to generate noise around their clients, it’s not always easy to differentiate between those who are potentially wanted at PO4 and the transfer duds.
The News has its ear to the ground, however, with the summer window firmly up and running and can sort through the recruitment gems and transfer imposters.
Plenty of the early names said to be of interest to Pompey fall into the latter category.
The first to surface back in April was Dutch winger Jayden Braaf, a name which drew blank looks from some of the key decision makers in the Blues’ football operation.
Likewise, former QPR right-back Arkell Jude-Boyd, who moved to League Two after being rather flakily touted for a switch to PO4.
Aston Villa youngster Tommi O’Reilly is of no interest, despite the young winger having a progressive season in League Two with Crewe Alexandra.
Bamba Dieng is out to make his mark at the World Cup with Senegal after doing likewise in France with Lorient, but hasn’t been seriously discussed as a Pompey number nine option next season.
The News reported last month, however, Plymouth Argyle striker Aribim Pepple is someone who has been looked at after impressing with 18 league goals last term.
That was certainly the case with Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Svante Ingelsson in January, with the Blues monitoring his situation. The Swede doesn’t appear particularly keen on a move to the south coast, though, with no further noise over that situation changing.
Rangers pair Leon King and Calum Adamson have been mentioned, but those links have not been substantiated. Meanwhile, Elfsborg’s Nigerian Defender Ibrahim Buhari is not a name on any of Pompey’s transfer shortlists, the same goes for a man linked with a Fratton Park previously in Stockport County winger Jack Diamond.
Luke Graham's situation is one The News has been across this year, with the Scottish centre-back chased aggressively in the January window.
Dundee wanted to keep their prized asset until the end of the season, however, with the 22-year-old one of the most wanted young players around this summer.
With Madiodio Dia brought in instead of the man from Perth the Blues now have six centre-backs in their ranks, which makes a return for Graham unlikely at present. No contact further contact has been made by Pompey.
That could change if others were to move on but Graham wants his future resolved quickly, though a move to the Championship does appeal to the player.
Gibson Yah is another name to surface at the weekend, as the recruitment team look to the continent for business.
Discussions are reportedly at an ‘advanced’ stage to bring in the 22-year-old, with a veneer of authenticity to talk surrounding the imposing free agent.
Then comes the latest name to be mentioned in transfer dispatches in Swansea right-back Josh Key.
He operates in a department where the club currently has three operators, though Terry Devlin is a wanted man, Jordan Williams is looking for the regular playing time he didn’t quite get last term and Zak Swanson is out of contract at the end of the month.
Key is said to be wanted by a ‘plethora’ of Championship clubs, which in itself is a transfer red flag. When a host of sides are mentioned with a player it’s a hallmark of an active agent trying to generate interest in their client.