Portsmouth set for £1.5m transfer talks - Lincoln, Stoke City & Derby are lurking | OneFootball

Portsmouth will hold talks with a highly-rated defender next week ahead of a potential £1.5m move to Fratton Park.

Portsmouth are preparing for their third consecutive season in the Championship after steering themselves clear of the drop zone last term.

Pompey finished in 18th place after a poor start to the season which had them marred in a relegation battle, but John Mousinho once again managed to turn things around and guide them to second tier safety once again.

This saw rumours regarding the beloved Pompey manager's future arise over the summer, with the likes of Championship rivals Bristol City linked with a move for the 40-year-old's services.

However, rumblings around Mousinho's future have died down in recent weeks, with the Robins appointing Michael Skubala and no other clubs coming knocking as yet.

Now there is less uncertainty surrounding the manager's future, Portsmouth can prepare to strengthen their squad in the transfer market, and a fresh report has suggested they've already got a new defensive target in their sights.

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One highly sought-after player this summer is young Dundee defender Luke Graham, who enjoyed an exceptional campaign with the Scottish Premiership side last season.

The 22-year-old, who received his first senior Scotland call ahead of a friendly against Curaçao last month, already caught the eye of Championship clubs and Scottish giants Rangers before the transfer window opened.

Now the window is open, the interest in Graham is beginning to materialise, according to reports from Alan Nixon via his Patreon page on Sunday morning, as Portsmouth are set to hold talks with the player over a potential move.

The defender will reportedly be available for £1.5m this summer, and Pompey are now pushing to ensure they win the race for his service by holding talks with him this week.

Graham played 40 times across all competitions for Dundee last term, scoring three goals and scooping the club's Player of the Season award for his stellar individual campaign.

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Unfortunately for Portsmouth, they'll face stiff competition to land the signing of Graham this summer, with a host of fellow Championship clubs among those looking to sign the Perth-born centre-back.

, Lincoln City, Derby County, Stoke City, and Rangers are all still in the hunt for Graham's signature, leaving him with plenty of options on the table.

Pompey reportedly believe they can talk the 22-year-old into a move to Fratton Park, and are willing to do a deal if so, but Lincoln are also said to have made a pitch to the defender, with Derby, Stoke and Rangers all lurking in the background.

Nixon also stated that Derby's potential takeover could impact their priorities, which may see them fall behind in the race to sign the highly-rated Dundee star.

It's unclear where Graham's preferred destination is, and whether he wants to try his hand in the EFL with plenty of options on the table, or remain in his native Scotland and join one of the country's powerhouses in Rangers.

The reported £1.5m fee Dundee are demanding seems like a reasonable price for Graham, so it's no surprise to see plenty of clubs queueing up to try and get a deal done.