Plymouth Argyle & Wigan Athletic in transfer tussle for Portsmouth forward - John Mousinho says he can leave | OneFootball

Pompey are open to letting the 23-year-old leave Fratton Park this summer.

Portsmouth's Christian Saydee is a player that League One duo Plymouth Argyle and Wigan Athletic reportedly want to sign this summer.

The Pilgrims and the Latics have already made multiple signings between them this summer. Ryan Lowe's first addition to his renewed Wigan side saw midfielder Fraser Murray join the club on a two-year deal from Kilmarnock.

Additions from north of the border have also been made at Home Park, with left-back Jack Mackenzie brought in from Aberdeen. He is one of four players Plymouth have signed this summer, alongside Jamie Paterson, Caleb Watts and Bradley Ibrahim, although none have been made since the appointment of Tom Cleverley as the new head coach.

Plymouth and Wigan eyeing up Christian Saydee swoop

Saydee could be the former Watford boss' Fraser Murray equivalent as his new side are battling with Lowe's to sign the Liberian international this summer, as per Pete O'Rourke, who claims that loan moves are being looked into.

The 23-year-old has been more of a bit-part player for Portsmouth in his two seasons with the club since he move to Fratton Park from AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2023 for an undisclosed fee.

He has another year left on his Pompey deal and they will likely look to at least recoup their money should they allow either of the sides that O'Rourke to be interested in him to pursue a move.

John Mousinho has previously admitted that he would allow Saydee to leave the club this summer, despite his popularity.

"Chris is one where we love having him around and I think he’s had a brilliant Portsmouth career so far," Mousinho told The News. "There’s a bit of that cult hero about him for various reasons.

"There’s probably a balance there with Chris, where he might get an opportunity to get more minutes elsewhere. We’re not pushing him out of the door at all, but if he has an opportunity I think it would probably be reasonable for us to consider it with Chris."

While the Pompey boss hasn't utilised Saydee as a key cog in his attacking wheel, he has shown in the past that he can be a force in the third tier.

The campaign before he signed for Portsmouth saw him net seven goals and make 30 starts for Shrewsbury Town. That sort of form is what Plymouth and Wigan would look to try and recapture.

Christian Saydee could be a Ryan Hardie alternative for Plymouth Argyle - or he could play alongside the Scotsman

A move by Cleverley's side for another attacking option comes as no surprise. They are at risk of losing star centre-forward Ryan Hardie this summer.

He has interest from Wrexham, who Football League World exclusively reported were looking at a deal for the 28-year-old prior to the January transfer window.

FLW also understands that Hardie is in talks with the Pilgrims over potentially signing a new deal. His current terms expire next summer.

Saydee doesn't have the scoring record that Hardie does, but he is someone that the new boss could use as an option in forward areas should his reserves be depleted by an exit for the Scotsman.

Equally capable of playing as an attacking midfielder though, Saydee - if he joins Plymouth that is - could be deployed behind Hardie if he remains at Home Park, in what would be a pretty fearsome pairing at League One level.