Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has acknowledged that the club must rethink its January transfer plans after being left with very few fit centre-half options. The Championship side have seen a series of defensive injuries this month, with Conor Shaughnessy sidelined for around six weeks, and other defenders including Josh Knight and Hayden Matthews also out, leaving the Fratton Park squad light in central defence.
Mousinho said he and his coaching staff are closely monitoring the situation and remain in the market for reinforcements before the close of the transfer window. Portsmouth are close to bringing in Sunderland defender Aji Alese on loan, a move seen as necessary given the lack of available specialist centre-backs. Currently Ibane Bowat is the only recognised centre-half training regularly, with others such as Regan Poole listed as substitutes but not fully fit.
The club have already added several players this month — including midfielder Ebou Adams and wingers Millenic Alli and Keshi Anderson — and Mousinho has indicated that further signings are likely before Monday’s deadline. He stressed the importance of strengthening the squad so Portsmouth “come out of the window feeling stronger” amid injury challenges.
The Blues currently sit in the lower mid-table in the Championship, and the defensive crisis has made bolstering the back line a priority for the remainder of the transfer window.
