Portsmouth's relegation rivals set deadline day target as Millwall set to secure two promotion winners

Pompey’s relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday have identified one key area where they must boost their options before the January transfer window comes to an end on Monday.

The lack of options on the left-hand side of the Owls defence and their inability to find a replacement for former loan signing Harry Amass or Chelsea-bound Yisa Alao meant head coach Henrik Pedersen was forced to name at left-back for Saturday’s narrow home defeat against play-off contenders Wrexham.

The 20-year-old has 13 senior appearances to his name and has showed some signs of promise - but he was given a difficult afternoon as he came face-to-face with Wrexham wing-back Issa Kabore as he set up the only goal of the game for Sam Smith. As it stands ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline, academy graduate Johnson is the only option at left-back for Pedersen - and the Wednesday boss has stressed that situation will need to be rectified before the January transfer window comes to a close.

He told The Sheffield Star: “It is very important. You can see Reece, he does everything that he can. But also today he played against a very, very good player. But Reece is growing. But, of course, we need support for the left side because we need one who also can sometimes play instead of him and one he also can look up to. But let's see what we can get in, it's not easy.”

Lions land Seagulls winger and agree Black Cats loan deal

Millwall are set to boost their squad with the addition of two players that helped Sunderland secure promotion into the Premier League last season.

The Lions have already completed a loan deal for Brighton and Hove Albion winger Tommy Watson after the former Sunderland academy graduate agreed to spend the rest of the season with Alex Neil’s side. Watson joined the Seagulls during the summer after scoring the winning goal for the Black Cats in last season’s Championship play-off final against Sheffield United.

Lions director of football Steve Gallen told the club website: "I'm really pleased that we've got Tommy in on loan until the end of the season. There were a lot of clubs in for him, but he decided to join us. He's a good young player is who bright, versatile and full of energy, plus he is an England Under 21s international this season. He has some Premier League experience, too, with Brighton - and as we know from last year, he also has experience in big games."

Watson is set to be joined at Millwall by his former Sunderland team-mate Anthony Patterson as the Black Cats goalkeeper has now passed a medical ahead of the completion of a loan deal. Patterson was in goal for Sunderland’s Wembley win but has struggled for game-time this season after the Black Cats completed a summer move for Netherlands Under-21s international Robin Roefs.

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