Portsmouth eye Sheffield United transfer before September 1st | OneFootball

Reports suggest that Portsmouth are interested in signing Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies.

Portsmouth have been very busy in this summer’s transfer window, but they appear keen on adding to what is already a very big squad, with suggestions that they are interested in signing Sheffield United defender Rhys Norrington-Davies.

So far this summer, Pompey have made nine signings with seven players arriving at Fratton Park on permanent deals, as well as a couple of loanees also moving down to the south coast.

Benjamin Arthur and highly-rated attacker Ryan Kavuma-McQueen have arrived on temporary deals at Fratton Park, from Brentford and Chelsea respectively.

Odin Bailey was their first signing of the summer, joining on a free transfer, before the purchases of Eoin Kenny, Rocco Shein, Marko Milovanovic, Daniel Bielica, Luke Brooke-Smith and Abu Kamara – with the signings of Shein (£2.1 million), Milovanovic (£5.1 million) and Kamara (£2.5 million) statements of ambition.

John Mousinho’s side have started the season with a win and a defeat, losing at home to Queens Park Rangers on the opening day before defeating newly-promoted Lincoln City this weekend.

Even in that win against The Imps at Sincil Bank, Mousinho’s side conceded and also conceded 16 shots with an expected goals against of 2.29 – and so defensive reinforcements appear something that are sought after at Portsmouth.

Portsmouth interest in Rhys Norrington-Davies of Sheffield United

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According to an exclusive report by Danny Hall in The Star, Sheffield United are bracing themselves for interest in Rhys Norrington-Davies from Portsmouth.

The report explains that Norrington-Davies could leave Bramall Lane before the close of the summer transfer window as United try to reshape their defence.

It is suggested that Chris Wilder is keen on bringing in two centre-backs and, until that happens, Norrington-Davies will be kept around, and his departure may be delayed due to his versatility and ability to play in that role if required.

At left-back, though, he finds himself down the pecking-order behind Sam McCallum and Harrison Burrows after returning to South Yorkshire from his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers last season.

Norrington-Davies, who has had a troubled time of it at United due to injuries, did play more consistently at QPR – and another departure may be something that he is keen on to ensure more regular game time.

The Star report says that Pompey have shown an interest in the Welshman and that ‘they have made contact over a potential loan move’ with the defender out of contract at Bramall Lane next summer.

Sheffield United set for a busy close to the window

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As well as the potential departure of Norrington-Davies, The Star have also reported that goalkeeper Ivo Grbic is set for a move away from the club, too.

The ‘keeper is set to move to Turkish outfit Genclerbirligi, with Wilder also confirming that other departures are to be expected:

Wilder said: “There’ll be a couple more players that we need to move out, as we know, who aren’t going to be a part of this tight first-team group that we’re assembling at the moment.”

The Star have also exclusively reported that United are set to sign former Bristol City centre-back Adam Webster on a free transfer, following his departure from Brighton and Hove Albion – which could be important with regards to the future of Norrington-Davies.

United had been interested in Harry Souttar with Leicester City for a fee in the region of £8 million, but the Blades have since turned their attention away from the Australia international amid off-field issues with the company used to buy the club being placed into liquidation last week.