Exciting Portsmouth transfer news emerges with January window looming | OneFootball

Portsmouth's January plans become clearer after 1-0 loss to Bristol City

Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes has offered an exciting update on the club’s upcoming January transfer plans, which may offer some reprieve to the Fratton Park faithful amid a miserable run of form.

Pompey have endured a difficult first half of the campaign, with pressure now growing on manager John Mousinho amid their poor form towards the bottom-end of the Championship table.

The Hampshire outfit have slipped into the relegation places following a 1-0 loss to Bristol City at the weekend.

This was their third defeat in four games, leaving them with 17 points from their opening 18 games, having only earned four victories since the start of the campaign.

Portsmouth are in their second season back in the Championship after winning the 2024 League One title, so will be aiming to maintain their position in the division after coming 17th last year. They were, of course, expected to kick on and establish themselves this term, but are currently fighting against the drop under Mousinho.

Portsmouth’s January transfer plans made clearer in fresh update

Hughes has claimed that Portsmouth will be looking at the winter market to bolster their squad if they see an opportunity to do so.

The sporting director suggested that last January’s business laid the template for what kind of transfer activity we may see from them this season, but that a lot can still change between now and when the market opens due to how many games are still to be played in 2025.

“The January window is always busy,” said Hughes, via The News.

“There may be something we don’t anticipate, there will be different scenarios of what may become available.

“Going into January last year, we were tracking three centre-backs.

“One got into his team, one didn’t move in the end, and we were able to get Rob Atkinson, who was at the top of the list.

“So you have to follow as many different leads as possible.

“We will be as busy as we can be if we can make ourselves better.

“That sounds cliched and an overused phrase, but if opportunities allow us to bolster the group and improve the depth of it, we will always try to make those decisions and make that case to do so.

“We have seven games before the window opens and is active - and that could be a big part of the season, a lot can change.”

Hughes cited the injury to Connor Ogilvie as an example of how their transfer plans could still be altered between now and when the market opens in January, while also hinting that a forward is being targeted.

“I remember just before Connor Ogilvie got injured, one of the conversations we had with John was that left-back wasn’t a position we were looking at,” he added.

“You get an injury all of a sudden and you have to pivot with that, that is part of the thinking.

“We will plan for some of the more obvious eventualities, we’ll always want to try to affect the top end of the pitch. You look at goals scored [this season], we’ll try to find someone to change that.

“That will always be a priority, we’re always looking at strengthening every position, that’s the honest truth.

“We have some targets, a lot of work has involved going to a lot of games, so it’s staying proactive for what we need to do - then reactive if anything pops up between now and then.”

Portsmouth fell to 22nd in the Championship table with their 1-0 loss to Bristol City on Saturday afternoon.

Anis Mehmeti’s 17th minute strike sealed all three points for the Robins at Fratton Park, with goal difference now separating Mousinho’s side from safety at this stage of the campaign.

Pompey have scored just 15 goals from their opening fixtures, with Adrien Segecic being their top scorer with a tally of four.

Next up for Portsmouth is a trip to face Charlton Athletic at the Valley on 6 December in a 12.30pm kick-off.

Portsmouth need extra firepower in January

Portsmouth haven’t been good enough in front of goal so far this season, so it’s encouraging for supporters that it is seemingly something the club wants to address in the winter.

Star winger Josh Murphy, who assisted the most goals in the Championship last season, has struggled with injuries, while Colby Bishop has struggled for prolific form and is desperately short of confidence at the minute.

The ex-Accrington Stanley marksman has just one goal from 18 league appearances this term, but with Pompey's striking options rather thin on the ground, Mousinho has been left with little choice but to persist with Bishop.

Pompey need to bring in proven Championship players that can help the team immediately improve, or else they will be in danger of relegation.

It has been a step backwards for the side so far this season, but it is still early days, and it’s only goal difference that now has them in the relegation zone to start December.