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Portsmouth in hunt for Luton attacker who may be available for cut-price fee in January.

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Portsmouth are in the hunt to sign 5' 11" Luton Town attacker Elliot Lee in January, Football Insider understands.

The versatile attacker is in the final six months of his contract at Kenilworth Road and his suitors are aware he could be available for a cut-price fee in January.

A Luton source has told Football Insider that the Championship side may make 25 year old Lee available in the winter window with Portsmouth, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United all keen on his services.

The 25-year-old, who is the son of former Newcastle and England midfielder Rob Lee, joined Luton on a free transfer from Barnsley in the summer of 2017.

Lee started his career at West Ham with him coming through their youth ranks, but he ended up only making seven appearances for their first-team before departing in July 2016.

 

Steve Seddon: Portsmouth sign defender on loan from Birmingham City.

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Portsmouth have signed 5' 8" defender Steve Seddon on a loan deal from Championship side Birmingham City until the end of the season.

Seddon, 22, has made five appearances for Blues and spent time on loan at Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon last term.

"He strengthens our left-sided options, which is an area we've been lacking," Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett said.

"Steve is a good attacking left back who will give us balance in that part of the pitch."

 

Portsmouth set to make move for League One Goliath.


Portsmouth are set to step up their chase for a central defender as they chase Tranmere’s 6' 4" Manny Monthe.

The big defender is reported to be one of Kenny Jackett’s main targets this January with the South Coast club hoping to upgrade their defence.

Monthe has been a key figure at Tranmere since joining in 2018. The Cameroon-born defender was an important part of the side that won promotion from League Two last season and his dominant ability is attracting the attention of Pompey.

The fact he is left-footed is also thought to be a key reason Jackett wants his signature as it would add some much-needed balance to the back-line.

Tranmere are reportedly holding out for a fee of around £750,000 which could be a sticking point in any potential deal. He signed a two-year contract with the Super White Army in 2018 and Rovers will not want to see a key player leave without getting a decent return.

Peter Clarke’s arrival at Prenton Park has fuelled speculation Monthe may be about to depart but Micky Mellon will be hoping to strengthen his squad so will make sure Tranmere only sell the 24-year-old if the fee is suitably rewarding.

Tranmere are currently sat in 21st place while Portsmouth are hoping for a promotion bid in 2020 with them sitting just one point outside the play-off places.

 

Portsmouth considering move for Bristol City midfielder Sammie Szmodics amid interest from Ipswich and Huddersfield.

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Pompey are mulling over a bid for Sammie Szmodics to bolster their midfield options.
The News understands the Bristol City man is a player being considered by Kenny Jackett in the January window.

Szmodics is available on loan after failing to make the first-team breakthrough at Ashton Gate after signing from Colchester in the summer.

But the Blues face stiff competition from the likes of Championship pair Hull and Huddersfield for the 24-year-old’s signature, along with League One rivals Ipswich.

Pompey’s recruitment team have assembled a list of names in the key areas Jackett wants to strengthen this month.

And Szmodics is a player who has been mentioned as an option in the midfield area, with the Blues boss keen for recruits who can make an immediate impact in their bid to reach the Championship.

The direct runner and goal threat joined the Robins on a three-year deal this summer, but has been restricted to 107 minutes of league action with a 72-minute runout in his side’s Carabao Cup defeat to QPR.

Szmodics came through the ranks at Colchester and added an increasing cutting edge to his game, bagging 13 League Two strikes in the 2017-18 season before delivering a 15-goal return last term.

 

Portsmouth have signed Bromley striker Reeco Hackett-Fairchild for an undisclosed fee (believed to be £100,000) on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 21-year-old has previous EFL experience with Charlton.

He joined Bromley from the Addicks in the summer and scored eight goals in 23 National League appearances.

"He's got a lot of ball-playing ability and an eye for goal, so we're delighted to bring him here," boss Kenny Jackett told the club website

 

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Rumours are rife, that striker Brett Pitman may be on his way to either League division two leaders Swindon, or to Plymouth Argyle. Wherever he goes, he will score goals, but I will be sorry to see him leave us.

 

Portsmouth close in on Barnsley midfielder Cameron McGeehan

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Pompey are closing in on a loan swoop for Barnsley’s Cameron McGeehan.

The attacking 5' 11" tall midfielder has swiftly fallen out of favour under the Championship club’s new boss, Gerhard Struber, since his mid-November appointment.

And that has alerted the Blues to the 24-year-old’s availability on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign.

Should they succeed in capturing him, it would represent a massive statement of intent in terms of promotion ambition.

McGeehan scored six goals in 44 matches last season as Barnsley finished second in League One to earn promotion.

He started both games against Kenny Jackett’s side during that campaign, each ending in draws.

The former Norwich man was subsequently handed a new two-year deal by the Tykes in June and has made 14 appearances this season, including 10 starts in the Championship.

However, since Struber’s Oakwell appointment, McGeehan has featured just twice, not making the last five squads.

McGeehan had an unhappy visit to Fratton Park in January 2017, when he broke his leg while representing Luton.

The midfielder’s reaction while injured on the pitch then earned him booking from referee Tim Robinson.

 

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Portsmouth FC

✔@Pompey

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@CamMcGeehan has joined #Pompey on loan for the rest of the season from @BarnsleyFC

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Welcome to the club, Cameron

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The player's mother was brought up in Portsmouth, whilst his grandmother still lives in Portchester !

 

Portsmouth enquire about sought-after Man United youngster currently on loan in League Two.

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Portsmouth have been linked with Manchester United youngster George Tanner who is currently enjoying a successful loan spell in League Two with Morecambe as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

The twenty-year-old has made twenty-seven appearances for the Shrimps having signed in the summer on a season-long loan. Still, its understood United may let the defender leave the club permanently this transfer window as he enters the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford.

The report claims Portsmouth have enquired about Tanner along with Championship outfits Blackburn Rovers and Derby County, and Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.

The versatile player can play on either flank of the defence. He began his career as a forward but converted into an attacking full-back in 2016, although he is still capable of playing further up the pitch.

Tanner never made the first-team at United, and the report claims the Premier League giants would prefer to receive a fee for him in January rather than risk losing him for free in the summer. He is a former England Under 17 and 18 international.

 

Portsmouth’s Anton Walkes is set to leave the club, according to a report by the Portsmouth News.

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The defender is in talks with an unnamed club ahead of a proposed departure from Fratton Park.

Walkes, who is 22 years old, is being allowed to leave Pompey having fallen down the pecking order this season under Kenny Jackett. His contract with the League One side expires at the end of the season anyway, but his current side are getting a transfer fee for him.

The London-born man started his career at Tottenham Hotspur but only made a single senior appearance for the Premier League side. Instead, he gained first team experience out on loan in the Major League Soccer at Atlanta United before moving to Portsmouth.

He initially joined Pompey on loan but that deal was made permanent in July 2018. He has since played 66 times for them.

Jackett has said, as per the Portsmouth News: “He is talking to a club at the moment. We have to respect that at the moment and we will then put the relevant information out at the time. He has been missing this week and is in talks with a club.”

“Anton has been a good utility player, right-back, left-back and central midfield. The situation at the moment is he is talking to a club about a prospective move that will involve a fee.”

Walkes has been a useful player for Pompey over the past couple of seasons but is now moving onto pastures new.

 

Atlanta United announced today it has signed defender Anton Walkes via transfer from Portsmouth FC. Walkes played for Atlanta United in its inaugural 2017 season on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He will be added to the roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.

“We’re excited to permanently welcome Anton back to the club,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. “Anton is a versatile player who will immediately bolster our backline. He has spent the last two seasons developing his game in England against tough competition and now returns with tremendous experience. We know he fits well into the locker room and are happy to have him back.”

Walkes, 22, originally joined Atlanta United on January 26, 2017 on-loan from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Primarily deployed as a right back, Walkes made 20 appearances, 17 starts, and scored two goals in the MLS regular season. He returned to Tottenham following the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs and was then loaned to Portsmouth for the remainder of the 2017-18 EFL League One season. He made 12 appearances and scored one goal on his team debut and added one assist.

Walkes transferred to Portsmouth permanently on July 18, 2018. During the 2018-19 season, he made 24 appearances while scoring one goal and helped lead the club to a fourth-place finish in the table, earning a berth in the League One playoffs. Portsmouth also won its first EFL Trophy after defeating Sunderland 5-4 in penalties in Wembley Stadium. Walkes made 10 appearances during the 2019-2020 season and scored one goal during EFL Trophy play.

He spent his entire youth career with Spurs and ultimately made his First Team debut against Gillingham on Sept. 21, 2016, subbing on for the final 10 minutes during a 5-0 win in the Third Round of EFL Cup. Walkes also appeared in two matches during the 2016 International Champions Cup (ICC) against Atletico Madrid and Juventus.

 

Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle are interested in Wolves defender Dion Sanderson, according to a report by Football Insider.

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Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are considering loaning out the youngster for the rest of the season for more first team experience.

Portsmouth are believed to have made an approach to land him as they look to add more competition and depth into their defensive options. They sold Anton Walkes to Atlanta United yesterday and are now looking to plug the gaps in their defence.

Plymouth are also keen on Sanderson, as well as fellow League Two side Cheltenham Town, but both face strong competition from third tier Pompey.

Sanderson, who is 20 years old, is a key player for Wolves’ Under-23’s but is currently a long way away from their first team, hence why he is likely to go out on loan this month to get more experience under his belt before returning to Molinuex in the summer. The centre-back, who is the nephew of Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson, has been a regular in the Wolves Under-23s side this season in Premier League 2.

The Wolverhampton-born defender joined his local side in 2007 and has progressed up through their academy. He made his first and only senior appearance to date in October last year in a Carabao Cup tie against rivals Aston Villa.

He travelled to China for pre-season prior to this campaign and played a handful of friendlies for the top flight outfit. His contract at Molinuex expires in 2021.

Sanderson is likely to be shipped out on loan over the coming weeks with Pompey, Plymouth and Cheltenham all battling it out for his services.

 

Sunderland, Ipswich and Portsmouth in race for 23-year-old midfielder.

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League One trio Sunderland, Ipswich and Portsmouth are all eying a move for Rochdale midfielder Ollie Rathbone as reported by Football Insider.

The report claims Championship outfit Blackburn are also keen on the former Manchester United schemer.

Rathbone joined Rochdale from United in 2016, and he’s gone on to make one hundred and forty-two appearances across all competitions, including twenty-five this season. His all-action, hard-working style has caught the eye of several club’s and the report suggests a host of scouts have been keeping tabs on the twenty-three-year-old.

Rathbone never made the first-team at Old Trafford, but he’s now an experienced League One campaigner, and with two goals and four assists this season, he’s catching the eye of the bigger clubs in the division.

The sought-after 5' 7" central midfielder signed a new three-year deal at Rochdale in the summer, potentially keeping him at the club until 2022.

However, journalist Pete O’Rourke claims a source at Rochdale has revealed the club is bracing themselves for January bids for one of their prized assets.

 

Portsmouth preparing another raid on Championship Barnsley to bring in defender Dimitri Cavare.

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Dimitri Cavare (on the left)

Pompey have targeted Dimitri Cavare as the man to boost their defensive options. The Blues are preparing another raid on Barnsley to bring in the attacking right-back this month.

Kenny Jackett sees the 24-year-old as the kind of pacy addition who will bring the forward-thinking intent he’s looking for from his full-backs.

The Blues boss is a long-term admirer of the Guadeloupe international who moved to Oakwell in 2017.

Cavare’s made 64 appearances for the Tykes, scoring three goals, but has fallen out of favour under new manager Gerhard Struber and not featured since November.

Struber would be prepared to let the 6ft 1in defender leave this month, and he perfectly ticks the boxes for what Jackett is looking to bring in.

Pompey have already recruited Cameron McGeehan from the Championship outfit and are set to return to them again, after already landing three January signings to date.

The man who was named in the League One team of the season last term as his side earned promotion is under contract with the Tykes until the summer.

Cavare undertook his football education in France where he turned out for Ligue One side Lens before moving to Rennes in 2015.

After a trial at Huddersfield, he moved to Barnsley two years later and quickly picked up a reputation for his high-energy raids down the right flank.

Jackett has been looking to get a different blend of options in the right-back area and has leeway to do so following Anton Walkes’ departure to MLS side Atlanta United this week.

Pompey have already brought in McGeehan, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Steve Seddon this month. Jackett is also targeting a left-sided centre-back in the January window.

 

Talking to someone 'in the know' at Fratton Park this afternoon, we were allegedly offered £800,000 by Atlanta United for Anton Walkes, hence the transfer being agreed. They wanted to resign him, and as his girlfriend is American, he agreed on the move back out there.

I believe we paid Spurs £125,000 to sign him permanently a couple of years back, so all in all, quite a good deal for us !

 

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Both Blackpool and second division side Bradford City want to sign goalkeeper Luke McGee from Pompey. Not sure if a permanent transfer, or a loan agreement.

 

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Bradford City have signed Portsmouth goalkeeper Luke McGee on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old has not featured for the League One side this campaign.

The former Tottenham trainee arrives after Bantams number one Richard O'Donnell was ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

"It feels really good to be here and I cannot wait to get going," McGee, who could make his debut against Scunthorpe on Saturday, told the club website.