Portsmouth are expected to be very busy during the forthcoming transfer window, with a move for one of the most remarkable players in League One being considered for the 2023/24 season, according to reports.
Despite having one of the highest budgets in England’s third tier, John Mousinho led Pompey to promotion to the Championship in his first full season as manager, finishing top of the league by five points with the division’s joint-fourth best offence and third-best defensive.
The club on the south coast will now play in the second tier of English football for the first time in 12 years, having previously been relegated at the end of the 2011/12 season. Portsmouth received a winding-up petition that very season, but over a decade later, the club are now in much safer hands under Michael Eisner.
Supporters will now be hoping that their team can make an impact in the Championship next season, after Ipswich Town demonstrated that back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League are still possible in today’s game.
Nonetheless, if Portsmouth hopes to cause havoc in a better level next season, the board will need to sign some players to bolster the first-team roster. Karamoko Dembele is reportedly on the club’s list.
According to The News, Portsmouth are considering signing the Frenchman this summer after facing the English playmaker twice this season while on loan at Blackpool.
Dembele, the brother of Birmingham City star Siriki Dembele, scored nine goals and recorded 14 assists throughout his spell at Bloomfield Road. Only high-flying Peterborough United wingback Harrison Burrows and Derby County star Nathaniel Mendez-Laing registered more assists than the 21-year-old.
Dembele was one of the top League One players last season. He was fantastic under Neil Critchley and, despite his supposedly nimble looks, appeared to be a level above the third tier at times.
Signing the youthful playmaker would be a fantastic step by Portsmouth. However, he still has two years left on his current contract in France, so acquiring the attacker will not come cheap. Furthermore, given his outstanding performance on loan, Brest may wish to try him out in the first team.
Leave a Reply