BREAKING NEWS: 5 players that must be on the Portsmouth FC transfer radar including Sam Smith

Portsmouth are preparing for life back in the Championship after winning the League One title.

Pompey enjoyed an outstanding campaign as they were crowned League One champions after accumulating an impressive 97 points, and they will be back in the Championship for the first time since 2012.

John Mousinho has done a remarkable job at Fratton Park in what is his first managerial role, but those behind the scenes also deserve plenty of credit, particularly for the excellent recruitment over the course of the season.

Mousinho will be keen to upgrade his squad for the Championship, and he will be hoping that the club can replicate this season’s success in the transfer market.

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, we looked at five players that Pompey should be targeting.

Harrison Burrows

This season, Jack Sparkes has been Portsmouth’s more than capable backup to Connor Ogilvie at left-back, although Mousinho may decide to bolster this position.

Burrows, a defender for Peterborough United who finished the season as the League One Player of the Season, is one player he might target.

Burrows helped Posh make it to the play-offs by scoring an amazing 12 goals and dishing out 16 assists in 56 games across all competitions during the regular season. His stature was further elevated when he netted two goals in the 2-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley.

The defender’s first goal in the upcoming weeks will be to assist his childhood team in winning promotion, but his contract at the Weston Homes Stadium is set to expire this summer, so he will need to make a decision about his future.

Burrows will have plenty of Championship suitors if he is available on a free transfer, but he might be drawn to the idea of joining a team like Portsmouth that is rapidly rising in the standings.

Burrows is an obvious threat offensively, and his leadership qualities in the dressing room are demonstrated by the fact that, even at 22, he holds the position of captain for Peterborough.

Kwame Poku

Abu Kamara, a great player for Portsmouth this season who was on loan from Norwich City, finished with 10 goals and 11 assists in 52 appearances. However, it doesn’t seem probable that they will be able to bring him back to the team this summer.

In the event that Kamara is unable to return, Pompey may consider using another player from Peterborough to take Kamara’s place in Poku and provide reinforcements in the wide areas.

Poku helped Posh finish in the top six during the regular season by scoring 12 goals and dishing out eight assists in 47 games across all competitions. His efforts have not gone unappreciated.

Poku was being watched by a number of teams before the January transfer window, including Stoke City, Bristol City, Millwall, West Bromwich Albion, and Ipswich Town. Although he stayed at Peterborough, they may have to fight again this summer to keep him, especially if they don’t get promoted.

Poku would be a really exciting addition if Portsmouth could get a deal done, but it would be difficult to win the race for his signature.

Karamoko Dembele

Dembele, a winger who had a great season on loan at League One Blackpool, is another player Portsmouth should have an eye on.

Dembele came to the Seasiders from French team Brest on loan in the summer. In 47 games across all competitions, he notched nine goals and fourteen assists as Neil Critchley’s team just missed out on the play-offs.

Pompey would have a lot of competition when the summer transfer market opens since Everton, West Ham United, Fulham, Brentford, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Southampton, Leeds United and Middlesbrough are all reportedly keeping an eye on Dembele.

However, Portsmouth may have an advantage because they can offer Dembele regular playing time. Additionally, Mousinho’s coaching helped all four of the players who were on loan at Fratton Park this season—Kamara, Alex Robertson, Tino Anjorin, and Myles Peart-Harris—develop considerably, which may persuade Dembele to sign.

Macaulay Langstaff

Although Portsmouth won the title this season thanks to a productive up front pairing between Colby Bishop and Kusini Yengi, it is unclear how well the two will fare in the Championship.

This summer, Mousinho will probably be eager to add more goals to his team. Langstaff, a striker for Notts County, is one player he should take into consideration.

In the summer of 2022, Langstaff moved from Gateshead to Notts, where he scored 41 goals in 47 appearances across all competitions to help the Magpies win the play-offs and advance from the National League.

Langstaff’s ability to continue his success in League Two was questioned, but he silenced his detractors by going on to score 29 goals and dish out four assists in 49 games for Notts this season.

Despite rumoured interest from Birmingham City, Sunderland, Peterborough United, Derby County, Wrexham, and Hearts, the Magpies were able to hold onto Langstaff in January. However, following a disappointing second half of the season that saw them finish in mid-table, they may be vulnerable to losing him this summer.

Although Langstaff would be a risky addition to Pompey, his smooth transition from the National League to League Two suggests that he will likely adjust to the Championship.

Sam Smith

Reading striker Smith is a safer choice for Portsmouth if Langstaff is viewed as too much of a risk.

Smith left Cambridge United in the summer, and Pompey was rumoured to be interested in him. However, they decided not to pursue the deal, and Smith returned for a second stint at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Smith went on to have a fantastic season, scoring 16 goals and dishing out one assist in 37 games to help the Royals survive in League One, so Mousinho might have regretted not pursuing a deal for him.

Reading will be fighting to hang on to Smith, who was one of their best players during a difficult season, but they may lose some of their most important players if the club’s ownership crisis isn’t settled.

Portsmouth may rekindle their interest in Smith if he is willing to accept a reduced price, and he might prove to be a wise addition to the forward line.

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