"Portsmouth have to be careful" - Latest Matt Ritchie news as Championship return looms | OneFootball

Portsmouth are reportedly weighing up a move to bring former Newcastle United winger Matt Ritchie back to the club.

This article is part of Football League World’s 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Portsmouth are preparing for life back in the Championship after their promotion from League One.

Pompey won the League One title after an outstanding campaign that saw them accumulate an impressive total of 97 points, and they will play in the Championship for the first time since 2012 next season.

Portsmouth considering move for Matt Ritchie

Manager John Mousinho will be keen to strengthen his squad for the second tier, and according to The News, Portsmouth are considering a move for former Newcastle United winger Matt Ritchie.

Ritchie began his career with Pompey, making 10 appearances for the club before departing for Swindon Town in January 2011, and he is a free agent after being released by the Magpies this summer following eight years at St James' Park.

Mousinho was asked about Portsmouth's interest in Ritchie, but he remained coy on the prospect of the 34-year-old returning to Fratton Park.

"With Matt, everyone at Portsmouth knows him and he’s had a fantastic career," Mousinho told The News.

"I don’t know what the circumstances around what Matt’s intentions are this summer.

"If it was one we were interested in I wouldn’t say anything - and if it wasn’t I’d still not say anything!"

If Pompey are keen to bring Ritchie back to the club, they could face competition for his signature, with TEAMtalk revealing earlier this month that Watford were among "a host of Championship clubs" plotting a move for the former Scotland international.

We asked some of our FLW writers for their thoughts on Ritchie's potential return to Portsmouth.

James Reeves

Portsmouth should be careful about a move for Ritchie this summer.

Ritchie has gone on to enjoy a strong career since his departure from Pompey in 2011, and there is no doubt he has been a quality performer over the years, both in the Premier League and the Championship.

The winger has excellent Championship experience, having won promotion from the division on two occasions with Bournemouth and Newcastle, and that could be useful for Portsmouth as they prepare to return to the second tier.

Ritchie remained an important part of the Magpies' squad this season in the top flight, but only one of his 17 appearances came from the start, and at 34, it does seem as though his best days are behind him.

Given the fact he was playing in the Premier League this season, Ritchie will be on high wages, and while he would have to take a pay cut if he was to make the move to Fratton Park, he would still take up a large portion of the club's budget.

Ritchie would be a solid signing for Pompey, but it would feel like quite a sentimental move to bring him back to the club, and there could be better options out there for significantly lower wages.

Alfie Burns

What's important for Portsmouth is that they aren't making this signing for the sake of it, or making it because it's Matt Ritchie, and he used to play for Pompey.

Having won promotion from League One so impressively, they are in a good position, but the Championship is a step-up, and they need to get their recruitment right. They need players to fit Mousinho's system and also improve the team's chance of competing at a higher level.

There's no room for sentiment or a potentially expensive signing of an ex-Premier League player for the sake of it.

That being said, there are perks to bringing Ritchie in. Geography is one clear positive for the player, but he can offer some really good experience for a club that's been adrift of the top two tiers for too long now.

Ritchie is at the stage of his career where he will want a club that appeals to him, from a footballing point of view and also a project he can believe in, and still put his heart into it. Portsmouth can probably offer him that, and he can offer them a lot in return.

If the finances are right, you can see the sense in it. Portsmouth just have to be careful.