Portsmouth boss’ free transfer update in wake of new injury problem and striker calls
Pompey have lost defender Aji Alese for the season and fans are calling for a free agent striker to arrive. John Mousinho updates over the position on out-of-contract players.
John Mousinho is opting against dipping into the free agent market for a new defender.
The Pompey boss doesn’t see the loss of Aji Alese for the season as reason enough to move for an out-of-contract option at the back.
Pompey boss: ‘I think we’re okay in terms of that cover’
And calls for the Blues to move for a free agent striker look set to go unheeded, with Mousinho not seeing suitable options available at present.
Alese’s Fratton career being over before it started put the focus on defensive recruits, as he returned to Sunderland after picking up a quad injury.
But Mousinho is now comfortable with his centre-back considerations, with Hayden Matthews and Conor Shaughnessy nearing returns.
He said: ‘I think if you had told me that at the start of the window (they would lose their new defender) then I think we would’ve looked for a change.
‘But where we are at the minute is that Conor (Ogilvie) is playing really well as a left-sided centre-back, then Swanny (Swanson) is the starting left-back and Jordan Williams is coming on and doing really well. So I think we’re okay in terms of that cover.
‘Then at left-sided centre-half we’ve got Ibane (Bowat), Connor Ogilvie and Madiodio (Dia) can play there as well. So I think we’re okay there at the moment.
‘We had two centre-backs on the bench at Charlton, and one of them came on.
‘So I think we have enough cover there, especially with positive news on Hayden (Matthews) and Shaugs (Shaughnessy) coming back in 10 days’ time.’
Mousinho is also comfortable with how things stand in the middle of the park, after considering recruiting in that area, despite losing Andre Dozzell to an ankle issue.
He added: ‘We looked at it at the end of the window and thought we’ve got Ebou (Adams) and Doz (Dozzell) there.
‘We’ve also got Marlon (Pack), Luke Le Roux and Swifty (Swift), who has played there as well in those two positions.
‘So we’ve got five to cover those two positions and Terry (Devlin) can play in there as well. We felt we were okay.’
Pompey boss doesn’t see ‘blindingly obvious’ free agents
In terms of striking free agents, Championship rivals Charlton Athletic are keen on former West Ham United front man Michail Antonio - who suffered a broken leg in a near-fatal car crash in December 2024.
Some Pompey fans are keen on on a new out-and-out No9 to support Colby Bishop, but Mousinho doesn’t see a player who fits the bill.
He added: ‘If there was anything blindingly obvious out there that was screaming out to us to them, we would (sign a player in any position). There’s nothing out there at the moment.’