Portsmouth eyeing winger swoop amid £2.6m bid - significant stumbling block has emerged though | OneFootball

Portsmouth are reportedly interested in signing Gornik Zabrze star Ousmane Sow.

Portsmouth have set their sights on a move for winger Ousmane Sow, who plies his trade for Polish top-flight club Gornik Zabrze - but there already appears to be a big road block that may stop a transfer from happening.

Pompey are vying to enjoy a successful January transfer window as they strive to pull themselves clear of the Championship relegation zone.

The Fratton Park club failed to successfully follow up on their dramatic 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in late December, as they were battered 5-0 by Bristol City at Ashton Gate on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, signing a new winger should be a priority for Portsmouth, after former loanee Yang Min-Hyeok was recalled by Tottenham Hotspur and consequently offloaded on loan to Championship rivals Coventry City.

Portsmouth interested in Ousmane Sow amid Championship relegation battle

Pompey's main focus remains on their Championship relegation battle, but John Mousinho's men are also preparing to face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Meanwhile, according to Polish outlet Meczyki, the Hampshire outfit are among the parties interested in Gornik Zabrze wideman Sow, who has notched nine goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this term.

Partly thanks to the 25-year-old's efforts, Michael Gasparik's side sit second in the Polish top flight, having successfully amassed 30 points in 18 games.

Sow could be a real asset for Mousinho's side, but Meczyki's report states that a move to the Championship doesn't suit the winger from a sporting point of view, amid rival interest from Danish outfit Brondby and Czech giants Viktoria Plzen.

It is claimed that Brondby have placed a €3 million (£2.6 million) transfer bid on the table for Sow's services, with add-ons taking that fee potentially higher, and it's one that Gornik can't afford to turn down at this moment in time - that may create somewhat of an auction, but if Pompey get involved, the Senegalese attacker will need some convincing to move to England.

John Mousinho set for further blow if Ousmane Sow snubs Championship switch

Mousinho has largely done an admirable job in charge of Portsmouth, since taking the managerial reins at Fratton Park back in January 2023.

The former Oxford United star's first full-season in charge of Pompey saw him guide the South Coast club to the League One title, thanks to a strong return of 97 points.

Mousinho then proved his worth in the dugout at Championship level last term, as his side enjoyed a relatively comfortable 16th-place finish, successfully avoiding relegation.

However, the current campaign has proven significantly more testing for the 39-year-old, whose club have managed just one win in their last four attempts, while the 5-0 defeat to Bristol City damaged confidence at Fratton Park.

With Portsmouth sitting just one point and one place clear of the Championship relegation zone, Mousinho needs reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Sow's performances in Poland suggest that he would be a good signing for Pompey this month, so it would be a dent to their survival credentials if the former Olympic de Charleroi man instead favours a move to either Denmark or Czechia.

Meanwhile, the Fratton Park outfit's next Championship clash against strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on January 17 presents them with a vital opportunity to earn their first league win of 2026.