Portsmouth set to beat Cardiff City and Millwall to £2.1m transfer | OneFootball

Portsmouth are closing in on the exciting addition of Estonian starlet Rocco Shein ahead of Cardiff City and Millwall

As Portsmouth prepare for a third successive campaign back in the Championship under John Mousinho, the south coast outfit are closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window and have reportedly beaten off a pair of second-tier rivals in the process.

Speculation surrounding Mousinho’s future at Fratton Park has rarely threatened to disappear, and while the popular 40-year-old has been linked with moves to both Bristol City and Stoke in recent times, it now appears increasingly likely that he will remain in situ to lead Portsmouth into the 2026/27 campaign.

Pompey, having lifted the League One title in 2024, have relied on late-season form to dodge a return to the third-tier in each of the last two seasons, and will now be bidding to enjoy a more comfortable campaign as they strike to establish themselves at Championship level.

Mousinho will have to work on the squad at his disposal, then, which has led Pompey to close in on their opening capture of the summer window in a development that may just leave both Cardiff City and Millwall with a tinge of regret.

Portsmouth set to seal £2.1m Rocco Shein transfer

The player in question is highly-rated Estonian midfielder Rocco Shein, who, according to fresh reports, is on the verge of heading to Fratton Park.

As reported on Sunday by Norwegian outlet TV 2, Pompey have agreed the terms of Shein’s impending transfer with Fredrikstad of the Eliteserien.

It’s said that Shein, who has made 48 appearances for the Norwegian top-flight outfit since joining from FC Dordrecht in January of last year, is likely to have played his last game at the Nye Fredrikstad Stadion as he closes in on a reported €2.5 million (£2.1 million) switch to Mousinho’s side.

The deal reportedly contains various add-on criteria to render it extremely profitable for Fredrikstad, and will see Pompey fend off competition from both Cardiff and Millwall.

Cardiff were linked with Shein’s services after achieving promotion out of League One at the very first time of asking, whereas the 22-year-old had also been of reported interest to Millwall in the wake of the Lions’ play-off semi-final defeat to Hull City.

It’s Portsmouth, however, who look to have won the race for the 25-cap Estonian international this summer in what could turn out to represent something of a coup for the Championship side.

Portsmouth fans react as Rocco Shein transfer nears

Portsmouth supporters are delighted to see moves being made in preparation for the new season, and the general consensus among the Fratton Park faithful is that Shein's seemingly-imminent arrival represents a real statement of intent from the Eisner family.

Under the Eisners, Portsmouth have been criticised by fans for a perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market.

Pompey's spending power is admittedly limited, with the club preferring to operate with a sustainable policy of recruting young talent on the cheap with the intention of eventually flipping wholesale profits, but Shein will be a sizeable investment in light the budget Mousinho has typically worked under and fans are loving it.

This one supporter said that it shows the Eisners are clearly more ambitious heading into next term, and he'll be hoping that further additions join Shein in heading through the door in the coming weeks.

Echoing similar sentiment, another fan believes that the ownership have finally listened to concerns from supporters.

As for this supporter, a shock potential push for play-off contention could be on the cards if Portsmouth can continue to attract courted continental talent to Fratton Park.

The expansion of the play-off places to a rebranded top-eight will leave many sides fancying their chances of sealing a new route to the Premier League, and even if that could be a tall order for Mousinho to achieve next year, it's an indication of progression and growing optimism at Pompey.