With 12 games played in the 2023-24 League One season, Portsmouth are the current league leaders, having moved away from Oxford United in the early stages and been the most outstanding pair in the third tier.
Pompey have struggled to break out of this tier for several years, having returned in 2017 after being promoted from League Two.
After making the play-offs twice in six years – under Kenny Jackett and then Danny Cowley – Portsmouth have gone three years without finishing outside the top six, but so far, so good for rookie manager John Mousinho.
His appointment in January aroused eyebrows, but Mousinho has the south coast club unblemished in league play thus far with a summer full of smart recruitment playing a part.
However, the transfer market will reopen in January 2024, providing Portsmouth the opportunity to fine-tune their squad for the closing stages of the season.
Let’s have a look at THREE possible transfers for Mousinho’s team in the January transfer window…
Denver Hume is out.
After falling out of favour at Sunderland, Hume joined Pompey in January 2022 for a fresh start, and he already had some League One experience under his credit.
But it hasn’t worked out for the 25-year-old at Fratton Park under both Cowley and Mousinho, with a lack of game-time playing a role.
In the summer, Portsmouth were eager to listen to bids for Hume, having spent a reported £200,000 for his services a year before, with Swindon Town and Port Vale also showing late interest in the summer window.
However, Hume is still on the books at Pompey but isn’t making the matchday squad, so it wouldn’t be surprising if his contract was mutually terminated in January.
Yago Santiago is in.
In actuality, Pompey are well-stocked in most parts of the field, but with Anthony Scully having not played much in the last year or so, another aggressive wide man might be acquired in January.
And in Santiago, there is a player who is doing admirably in Premier League 2 competitions, honing the art of some of England’s top young players.
The 20-year-old joined Spurs from Celta Vigo in 2019 but has yet to make his professional debut for the London club, instead often playing for their under-21s.
Santiago, who usually plays on the left side of a front three and cuts onto his stronger right foot, has been on fire in the Premier League 2 this season, scoring five goals and dishing out three assists.
Portsmouth, who had Dane Scarlett on loan last season, might use their link with Tottenham to bring another outstanding kid to the south coast.
Sean Raggett is out.
Raggett has been a rock at the back for Pompey, but perhaps now is the time to let him go.
Raggett’s game-time has been severely limited due to the presence of Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, and Ryler Towler at the back, and he will be in high demand from League One and Two clubs.
Raggett, 29, still has years remaining to offer another team with his presence week in and week out – it’s just not happening with Pompey right now, and he deserves a fresh start.
Leave a Reply