West Brom advance on transfer swoop ahead of Portsmouth trip as ex-Blues target closes in on Championship switch
The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey and their Championship rivals.
There’s less than five days to go until the January transfer window slams shut - and there’s still plenty of work to be done at Fratton Park.
John Mousinho is still targeting a handful of new arrivals before Monday’s deadline, with 1-3 faces likely to arrive.
Outgoings are expected to take place before deadline day to accommodate any fresh signings
There is plenty of gossip and speculation doing the rounds elsewhere in the Championship as business ramps up in the final days of the window.
Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ second-tier rivals.
Baggies bag before Pompey trip
Although Mousinho’s men have one eye on the ongoing transfer drama, Pompey do have a crucial contest against West Brom this Saturday to contend with.
The Blues welcome their relegation rivals to Fratton Park, with Eric Ramsay’s side currently sitting one place and two points over this weekend’s opponents.
Indeed, the Baggies are believed to be closing in on one new arrival before their trip to the south coast, according to reports.
The Express and Star have revealed West Brom are advancing in a loan swoop for Crystal Palace defender Danny Imray as Ramsay looks to bolster his ranks following his appointment earlier in the month.
The full-back spent the first half of the campaign in League One with Blackpool, where he amassed 16 appearances in all competitions prior to his recall last week.
The 22-year-old is reportedly heading straight back out of Selhurst Park on a temporary basis, with the Baggies hopeful of landing the Eagles talent before Saturday’s all-important contest against Pompey.
Imray is expected to become the second arrival at the Hawthorns this month after the capture of goalkeeper Max O’Leary from Bristol City.
Summer Pompey target ‘close’ to move
Former Pompey target Abdoulie Manneh remains in England as a hunt for a new club continues.
The winger, who was on the Blues’ radar in the summer window, has been the subject of continued interest from clubs across the Championship following an impressive season with Swedish champions Mjallby AIF.
After Pompey turned their attention elsewhere, the 21-year-old has been linked with a host of clubs during the campaign, with Stoke City and Coventry City tipped, while a switch to Birmingham City recently collapsed.
Manneh is, though, ‘close’ to agreeing a move to an unnamed English outfit before Monday’s deadline according to MAIF director of football Hans Larsson, who has revealed the forward has not returned to training with his current side.
He told Kristianstadsbladet: ‘He is still in England and our hope is that he will be sold there before the window closes on February 2.
‘It is quite close with a club so we did not think there was any point in flying him here and then there again in case something were to happen.’