The Championship Jump serves as a reminder to Portsmouth while Stoke City plans a seven-figure transfer raid.
Now that Pompey’s spot in the Championship for next year is certain, the Blues will be watching to see who joins Derby County in getting promoted to the second division.
Bolton leads their play-off semi-final 3-1 going into this evening’s home second leg, while Oxford United won 1-0 in their first game and will play their second leg in Peterborough on Wednesday, May 8.
John Mousinho and the Fratton Park board have started getting ready for the summer transfer window while we wait to see what happens to the four play-off teams. However, their potential opponents have given them a harsh reminder of the amount of money they can spend in the Championship right now.
Here is the most recent information regarding Pompey’s potential Championship opponents.
Ex-Pompey target generates interest in transfers
According to the Plymouth Herald, Plymouth Argyle anticipates seeing further transfer interest in Morgan Whittaker, a former Pompey target. Due to his heroics in the 2023–2024 season, the Pilgrims star, who has scored 20 goals for his team this season, was nominated to the EFL Championship squad of the season.
The 23-year-old has been a shining light in the south coast team’s poor season, as they nearly avoided relegation after defeating Hull City 1-0. Near the close of the January transfer window, Lazio made an offer of £8.5 million for him, which was eventually turned down. However, director of football Neil Dewsnip thinks their prize asset will have drawn far more interest before the summer.
Dewsnip stated of Whittaker, who still has three years remaining on his Pilgrims contract: “I think he was absolutely outstanding the first half of the season.” Although he made a fantastic contribution in the second half, he hasn’t likely been as effective—less goals and fewer opportunities.
“With 20 goals in the end, he made a significant contribution for any Championship club.” Well done, Morgan. Will he be of interest to anyone? There undoubtedly will be. Excellent players are hard to come by in the Championship. We’ll have to wait and see what happens, even in the Premier League. Right now, I’m not sure if anything is being discussed or considered.
Spending warning shot at Fratton Park
According to a report by John Percy of the Daily Telegraph, Stoke City is apparently targeting a summer transfer deal for Queens Park Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter, which may fetch a seven-figure price.
The Premier League-seeking Clarke-Salter is rumoured to be available for between £5-7 million, a price that reminds Pompey, the soon-to-be Championship team, of their potential rivals’ buying power. Colby Bishop, the most expensive player in the Blues’ current roster, was purchased from Accrington Stanley in 2022 for £500,000. Their opponents, however, are willing to pay seven figures.
The defender, who had previously been on loan at numerous different clubs, signed for the Hoops in the summer of 2022 after leaving Chelsea. Since then, he has made 49 appearances for the Rs in all competitions, however he has struggled with injuries during his time at Loftus Road.
Though Steven Schumacher’s team hopes to go up the Championship table in the 2024–2025 season, his recent performances have aroused transfer rumours, with the Potters supposedly eager to bolster multiple parts of his squad in the forthcoming window.
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