White is next tick but Pompey still have gaps to fill
Driving force in midfield still needed in window
Kenny Jackett, ever a stickler for punctuality, was pretty much bang on schedule again.
‘I think that in the second half of the window, say from January 15 onwards, loans will be available in that period,’ said the Pompey boss when analysing the dynamics of the transfer window at the start of the month.
In the end, his first piece of business of that nature was officially confirmed three days into that time frame, as a deal for Spurs’ Harvey White was sealed on Monday afternoon.
A move until the summer was greeted with frissons of transfer excitement among the support base, as business accelerated at the start of the week.
Fans drank up the clip of the teenager deftly ghosting home a 2018 free-kick against Pompey in the EFL Trophy, along with the glowing words of endorsement from Jose Mourinho.
So a piece of transfer business to tick the PR boxes, enthuse and hopefully offer sustenance to the promotion bandwagon which is quietly trundling in the right direction.
White arriving as what essentially looks a like-forlike replacement for the outgoing Bryn Morris only lubricates the free-rolling feelgood wheels of window business currently in motion.
Morris, of course, was never accepted by fans after a Fratton career savaged by injury issues and ultimately disappointment, as he failed to reach the levels required this term.
So an exit for Northampton six months shy of his contract’s finale was feasted on with the usual unedifying tweets and memes, for a player who was found wanting in some areas but not commitment or professionalism.
Still, it means Pompey have entered the final couple of weeks of this crucial window with impetus to match their upwardly mobile form.
And that only accelerated further on Tuesday night, with news of Charlie Daniels’ exit from Shrewsbury being confirmed amid intensifying talk of a PO4 arrival.
A man who was playing Premier League football last term, and has shown there’s still fuel in the tank at New Meadow amid 16 appearances and two goals this season. What’s not to like?
Even thoughts of feted Fratton favourite, Steve Seddon, have been pushed to one side amid news of Daniels’ pursuit.
It may be a tad premature to completely dismiss the Birmingham player, who has been pursued this month. Pompey have encountered difficulty accommodating his permanent salary within the framework of a wage cap, however, with a loan not favoured at St Andrews.
Still, everything points to a weighty competitor for Lee Brown being in situ by this
weekend – and more transfer reasons to be cheerful for Pompey.
A top-flight teenager’s promise and a heavy-hitting left-back’s presence. Nor should we overlook Jordy Hiwula’s supplementary attacking quality being here for the rest of the season, a deal sealed at a time when worrying noises were being made about him being lost from his admirers among the Fratton faithful.
With Rasmus Nicolaisen now locked in for the rest of the campaign, ensuring defensive competition remains substantial, there’s a lot to like about the make-up of Jackett’s squad.
But the critical piece of business could be yet to come.
For all the flourishes to Pompey’s options, we’ve still to see a weighty midfield addition come through the door this month.
And it’s that final piece of the jigsaw which could really make the biggest difference to promotion ambitions.
For all of White’s potential his assets are untried and don’t bring the same weight an experienced, dynamic box-to-box midfielder would offer. And it’s that addition which this squad has been crying out for.
That’s not to decry Andy Cannon’s influence in that position, rather underline his importance in bringing the kind of drive and dribbling ability no one else quite can in that role presently.
So with 12 days to go, it’s that area we look to. That signing we believe can provide the most significant uplift to Championship aspirations.
We may yet be left wanting for that name. Pompey have indicated there’s no guarantees of further midfield recruitment this month.
Rather nobody than a nobody, that’s for sure. But pulling a midfield somebody out of the hat before 11pm on February 1 is what we still crave.