Exclusive:Portsmouth transfer Q&A with Jordan Cross: Callum Lang latest, signings and Eisners selling
Our latest Pompey transfer Q&A lands this evening for our subscribers - with the updates on Callum Lang, Svante Ingelsson, signings, the Eisners selling and much, much more.
How many players do you see coming in and where before Monday? Malcolm Bessey
Well, only one place to start I guess and that’s where do things stand, with approaching three days of trading remaining at the transfer window’s conclusion?
I asked this very same question to John Mousinho on Wednesday and got a very tongue-in-cheek ‘between one and six’ answer, before he gave a more measured response of between two and three arrivals.
Since then, Pompey have confirmed the signing of Aji Alese, after we broke news of their interest in the Sunderland defender yesterday morning.
So by John’s own yardstick of what he believes would make a ‘good’ January, it’s two more. I think there’s a bit more to consider over that statement, however.
Pompey are known to be pursuing Dundee defender Luke Graham, with Mousinho debating whether one or two further centre-backs was the way to go amid the injury issues there.
Dundee have their own injury issues at the back, but the £1m-plus rated Scot is one to keep an eye on still.
Then there’s the striker Mousinho has explicitly stated is required. Nesta Elphege was pursued, but has since joined Serie A side Parma with Pompey’s preference for an option who is more prepared for the Championship.
There’s no new names there as of publishing this story, but expect a striker through the door by 7pm on Monday.
Mousinho also intimated another winger isn’t out of the question. Don’t forget, too, there is still a loan space available - which the Pompey boss suggested would be used.
What’s the latest with Callum Lang? Sarah New
There’s a few players we can expect to be on their way by the close of the window, but it’s Lang that’s the big talker, of course.
When I spoke about the subject last week, I made it clear my gut feeling was the deal gets done this time around - if Preston pay the £2m price tag and Pompey can get a replacement through the door.
My stance is pretty much the same seven days on, but there’s definitely more meat on the bones of the whole Preston transfer narrative.
Firstly, it’s my understanding Preston did come forward with firm interest in Lang and negotiations were taking place.
It’s also my understanding Lang said his goodbyes to his Pompey team-mates some days ago - indicating he clearly felt the deal was going through.
But from that point the trail went dead, however, with the Scouser still training with Mousinho’s squad this week.
There’s a lot of noise at the Preston end over their ability to finance the deal, which aligns with the move not accelerating. The Lilywhites have signed a loan striker in Milos Lukovic, but are still believed to be keen on a player of Lang’s profile.
From the Pompey football operation’s point of view they were expecting Preston to come back in, and it’s seemingly about whether a deal can be structured to suit all sides with time ticking down.
Expect things to kick and, potentially, kick on very quickly in the hours and days ahead.
Do you think the Eisners have had enough and want out? The fans deserve answers. @DarrenFpfc
There’s Darren with a subject which has gained a lot of traction in the past few days once again. I think a lot of that is to do with the perceived lack of spending, which I’ve touched on a lot lately - and will do again in a second.
In terms of the Eisners selling up, the answer is I haven’t heard any credible information they’re looking to do so - nor do I get the feeling it’s on the cards.
It’s a question I explicitly put to Mousinho a couple of weeks ago, and he pretty much laughed it off. That was a genuine reaction.
‘No, there’s no light I can shed on that one,’ was his chuckling response. ‘You’d have to ask the Eisners themselves about that, but if they were looking to sell I’m pretty sure they would’ve mentioned it, and they wouldn’t be looking to spend what we might spend in January.’
Whatever the owners do or don’t spend this window, it’s probably a fair point they wouldn’t sanction any fees if they were looking to sell.
On the owner’s spending, I’m still in the same position I’ve been for some time. I get the feeling a year ago, Mousinho’s expectation after signing Hayden Matthews for £1.27m was the levels would be raised going into last summer. That never happened.
Was it unreasonable to think paying perhaps £2-3m for additions was a fair progression? Not in my view - and my position is exactly the same now.
That’s especially the case when you see one relegation rival (Norwich) looking to bring in a £6m striker and another (Blackburn) already paying £3m to do so.
Why doesn't someone ask him (Mousinho) that bloody question directly (about spending levels), in your next interview? Or ask these owners why they provide such pitiful financial support?
@Mefmet1974
I've seen a bit of this flying around over the past few days, so it’s only fair the issue is addressed.
The subject of spending levels is one which is quite rightly causing consternation at the moment, as I’ve just touched on.
At times when there’s anger and frustration over any Pompey-related subject like this, The News can find itself in the firing line for ‘not asking the tough questions’ or similar.
It’s something I have no problem with really because I view it as people being passionate about the club we all love, but the reality will be we have asked those questions - even if people may not always like the responses!
I’ve lost count of the times we’ve tackled the issues of playing budgets, spending levels and Pompey’s position in the Championship spending hierarchy with Mousinho, for example, who is the person we have access to most.
When it comes to the owners, however, they haven’t made themselves available to speak to The News since I sat down with Michael Eisner in the summer of 2024 - which was after winning League One and returning to the Championship. A lot’s changed since then.
I can certainly tell you the lack of access since isn’t for want of trying, and there’s a lot we’d like to put to the club’s owners on behalf of fans.
That said, chief executive Andy Cullen does make himself available and will always respond to our calls - and doesn’t dodge any subject.
And that could well be a pertinent issue in the coming days, because spending levels are once again under the microscope at the window’s climax.
My position has always been clear on that one, I think we need to wait until the end of the window before forming conclusions and asking questions on the subject. That’s something we won’t shy away from doing.
Have you heard anymore on the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder?@AlanRay1169790
Hi Alan, the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, Svante Ingelsson, certainly is a player Pompey have been strongly pursuing - and that still remains the case.
A bid was placed with Wednesday’s administrators which was rejected, with the same happening to Millwall who are also looking to bring in the 27-year-old.
There’s talk of Ingelsson being valued at £500,000, but the situation surrounding completing the signing being far from straightforward.
I privately speculated whether the issue could be about Pompey freeing up space in the squad to bring him in by, say, moving out Luke Le Roux - who could be moved on before the transfer deadline.
But I’m now getting more of a sense this is about personal more than monetary reasons, with lifestyle and geography choices for Ingelsson a factor for the Swede, who seems to want to maintain convenient travel links with his homeland. Perhaps, too, London could be more attractive than living in Pompey - not that I agree!
I’m not saying these things are insurmountable, but it just goes to show you the complexities of doing deals - especially in the January window!
Time to wrap up our latest Q&A, thanks for your continued support by subscribing to our Pompey coverage. Doing so is allowing us to bring you these longer and more in-depth reads.
We’ll be all over the transfer latest between now and 7pm on Monday, with a busy deadline day of coverage in store. Play up Pompey!