Fabrizio Romano confirms blockbuster Portsmouth £5m+ striker transfer | OneFootball

Portsmouth have agreed a €6m deal for Almeria striker Marko Milovanovic in what is a statement signing for the club.

Portsmouth are looking to push on under John Mousinho as they prepare for a third consecutive year in the Championship.

It has been a hectic summer already for Pompey, as there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of the boss, who has done a fine job since his appointment at Fratton Park, which included guiding the club back to the second tier.

However, the previous campaign was a tough one, and whilst Portsmouth did ultimately finish 18th, they were nervously looking over their shoulder at times.

Portsmouth poised to sign Marko Milovanovic in €6m deal

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So, the challenge for the south coast outfit is to improve, and Mousinho will have demanded support to make that happen.

And, it appears he is going to get that backing, as Fabrizio Romano revealed that the club are poised to sign Marko Milovanovic from Almeria.

“Portsmouth have agreed a deal to sign Marko Milovanović from Almería, all sealed now. €6m fee plus 15% sell-on clause.”

This will be seen as a statement signing for the Championship side, as it’s the biggest fee - which translates to £5.1 million - they have spent on a player in almost two decades.

The 22-year-old was brought by Almeria from Partizan Belgrade after emerging as an exciting talent with the Serbian giants, but he endured a difficult first season in Spain.

As a result, Milovanovic spent last season on loan with Alverca, and he had a productive time in the Portuguese top flight, as he scored nine goals in 31 appearances, as the team secured a comfortable mid-table finish.

Marko Milovanovic deal is a positive move by Portsmouth

This is a very exciting update for Portsmouth fans, as the owners have been questioned in recent windows about whether they have the ambition to take the club forward.

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Similarly, with Mousinho linked with other jobs, which includes some clubs that Portsmouth wouldn’t see as a step-up, there has been doubt about where they are actually going.

So, in that sense, this is a huge move by the club, as it shows they are serious about trying to progress, and it’s the sort of backing that Mousinho would’ve been calling for.

Of course, there needs to be some patience with Milovanovic, as he is only 22, and he will be arriving in a new country and in a new league.

But, he is clearly talented, and, at 6ft 4in, he has the physical tools to excel in the Championship, and it shows that his game is more about goals, as Milovanovic is a focal point that can hold the ball up and bring others into play.

Milovanovic's age means he is the ideal profile for Portsmouth, as he is a player that should be able to make an impact in the short-term, and raise his value further down the line.

He had a good goal return in Portugal last season, and Almeria’s record with strikers over the years has been impressive, so the fact they brought him to the club in the first place is a positive sign.

Going into the window, bringing in a new striker was one of the priorities for Portsmouth, and the club deserve credit for getting this sorted swiftly, as Milovanovic will now be able to link up with his new teammates for most of the pre-season, which will help in his adaptation process.

So, it’s a fantastic start to the window for Pompey, and it will be interesting to see how the XI looks for the opener at home to QPR in August.