Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has delivered a ruthless assessment of the club's summer transfer activity, which saw 14 players depart and 11 new faces arrive. The overhaul is designed to improve the Blues' chances of progressing in the Championship, where they currently sit 18th with seven points from six games.
John Mousinho, now in his third full season in charge, stated the primary objective was squad security. "The first port of call is to cover ourselves - and I think we’ve done that," he said. Significant outgoings included the £1m sale of Josh Knight and a £1.25m loan fee received for Hayden Matthews, while Luke Le Roux's contract was terminated.
Squad decisions ahead
That aggressive recruitment drive has left some players in limbo. Former Liverpool attacker Harvey Blair is among those not named in the 25-man squad and awaits a decision on his future. "That unfortunately leaves a few players by the wayside," Mousinho added. The manager expects returning injured players to fill the remaining slots, with Keshi Anderson, Josh Murphy, and Connor Ogilvie all likely to be registered once fit.
The club's recent form has been mixed, with a draw against Charlton last time out following a 2-0 win over Cardiff. Portsmouth's next challenge is a home match against Blackburn on Saturday, 19 September. With key players still sidelined, including Murphy and Ogilvie, the depth of Mousinho's reshaped squad will be tested. The manager's clear message is that the hard decisions of the summer window were necessary for the club's Championship ambitions.
The original report is at portsmouth.co.uk
