Portsmouth may have found Abu Kamara replacement if 2024 levels are matched: View | OneFootball

Josh Murphy could prove to be an excellent piece of business ahead of Pompey's Championship return

Portsmouth have wasted no time in getting busy in the summer transfer window, with the Championship new boys already bringing in five new recruits ahead of their return to the second tier.

John Mousinho’s side have already acted to bring former Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Jordan Archer to Fratton Park, alongside Barnsley centre back Jordan Williams, and Reuben Swann from non-league AFC Sudbury.

Sam Silvera has also joined on a season-long loan deal from Middlesbrough, while the standout signing of the summer so far is that of Josh Murphy from fellow-promoted side Oxford United.

The tricky winger was one of the top performers in the third tier last year, with his match-winning brace at Wembley earning the U’s the 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers to secure promotion, and now Pompey fans may be able to put their Abu Kamara queries to bed.

Josh Murphy, Portsmouth switch could end Abu Kamara, Norwich City doubts

Kamara was a player who absolutely shone at Fratton Park last season, with the Norwich City loanee contributing to 18 goals for the League One title-winners during an impressive breakthrough season in the Football League.

With his bagfuls of skill and vision in the final third, the 20-year-old proved to be way above the level after playing in every game for the south coast side, with his goals making all the difference over the course of the campaign.

A well-taken winner against Fleetwood Town helped to continue the Pompey momentum into the new year, while vital strikes against promotion rivals Derby County and Bolton Wanderers made all the difference come the end of the season.

Try as Portsmouth fans might, they couldn’t resist falling in love with their loan star, which made his return to Carrow Road all the harder to take come the end of the season, as he waved goodbye to Fratton Park for potentially the final time.

Having tantalised the Portsmouth faithful all season, it was no wonder that the affection was mutual, with Kamara even teasing a potential return upon his departure from the club.

Kamara told The News back in April: “I knew Pompey were capable of achieving this success and for it to become a reality is a dream to come true for me.

“It’s my first loan, a very productive loan, and champions. You can’t ask for more.

“I’m not someone who likes to look into the future, I prefer to take it as it comes, and I’ll just see what goes on.

“My aim is to try to get into the first-team at Norwich, although I would definitely like to come back, I love it at Pompey.”

Any potential return will now have to be confirmed by new City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, after the Dane was announced as the successor to David Wagner as Canaries boss last month.

The 35-year-old will likely want to give all of his players the chance to impress during pre-season, and with the talents that he possesses, there is no reason why Kamara won’t be pushing the likes of Jon Rowe and Gabriel Sara for a place in the starting lineup in Norfolk next season.

With that in mind, Pompey have acted quick to get a replacement in through the door, with Murphy’s resurgence at Oxford proving he is more than capable of achieving great things after his move to Hampshire.

Inspired Josh Murphy leads Oxford United to League One promotion before Portsmouth move

The resurgence of Josh Murphy’s career has been a joy to see in the past 12 months, with the former Cardiff City man rediscovering the form that saw him move to the Welsh side for a reported eight-figure fee back in 2018.

Everybody always knew what the tricky wide man could do on his day, but during the previous campaign, the U’s managed to get the best out of him on a regular basis on their way to promotion, as he contributed to ten goals from his 28 appearances.

Incoming United boss Des Buckingham managed to get the forward back to believing in himself after an up-and-down start to the campaign, something that Murphy acknowledged when asked by The Mirror earlier this year.

He said: “Since Des has come in he's given me a license to just go and play. He likes to play with wingers and gives you that freedom and a licence [to influence games].

I think it took a bit of time [to adapt] to start with because as humans, and what humans are going to do, we're a creature of habit.

"There was a little bit of a transition period. But I think the fans definitely can see what Des and his team look like now. He's given me that opportunity I needed to remind everyone of the player I am."

That freedom to express himself is exactly what Mousinho needs to give Murphy next season if they are to get a replication of his latter days at the Kassam Stadium, with the forward producing his best work when given the licence to do as he pleases.

Judging by Kamara’s ability to influence games at will last season, that will be no issue for the former Stevenage man to accomodate for, with Murphy set for another stab at Championship football, and a hunger back in his belly to perform to his best.