A major summer is anticipated at Fratton Park, with John Mousinho preparing to reshape his squad ahead of next season.
As the current campaign enters its final stages, focus has already shifted toward the future following Pompey’s successful bid to secure Championship survival. Although safety was confirmed with two games to spare, the season has not been without its difficulties, including injuries and a lack of goals.
Here’s a breakdown of the key areas Mousinho is likely to prioritise in the upcoming transfer window:
Centre-back
Despite having six natural centre-backs under contract, Portsmouth may still look to strengthen this area. Regan Poole has been a consistent presence, but injuries have forced frequent changes in his defensive partners. Conor Shaughnessy, Josh Knight, and Hayden Matthews have all endured spells on the sidelines, while Ibane Bowat has found regular starts hard to come by.
Even with this depth, the addition of a commanding centre-back could provide competition for Poole and Shaughnessy, as well as cover in case of further injuries.
Full-back areas
Terry Devlin’s future remains a talking point after an impressive season in which he cemented his place at right-back. Zak Swanson is approaching the end of his contract, though Mousinho has indicated a desire to extend his stay following strong performances.
If both players were to leave, the right-back position would become a pressing concern, leaving Jordan Williams as the only senior option.
On the left side, the experienced Lee Brown has been a reliable figure over the years, establishing himself as a consistent Championship-level full-back. Swanson has occasionally filled in on the left during injury spells, but if he is needed elsewhere—or departs—options could become thin.
That scenario would leave Brown and the injury-prone Jacob Farrell as the only choices, potentially forcing Pompey to enter the transfer market to strengthen the position.
