Senior talent high on summer recruitment list, insists Hughes
Pompey’s busy summer recruitment drive will not be dominated by promising youngsters.
That’sthereassurancefrom Rich Hughes, who is adamant senior players are also high on the Blues’ wish list when the transfer window reopens on June 10.
Ryley Towler and Paddy Lane were added permanently to John Mousinho’s squad in January, representing highlyregarded young talent.
It’sapolicyPompeyarekeen to embrace, moulding the future of the club while potentially allowing them to cash in should a player’s development attract transfer interest.
However, sporting director Hughes insists that won’t be at the expense of signing more experienced players – with a balance required to achieve success.
He told The News: ‘Do we wanttosignyoungplayerswho are going to help the football club? Yes, absolutely.
‘There’s a natural by-product that they also generate value, which again is part of how football works.
‘But, as much as we want to sign people like Ryley and Paddy – and they have shown their worth – we also want to recruit playerswhocangostraightinto the XI and help the team be really successful.
‘ You need balance for success and we must add to our really good senior pros, while also bringing in some exciting young talent.
‘In January, we had some really good senior players in the group in Colby Bishop, Marlon Pack, Tom Lowery, Joe Morrell, Sean Raggett and Joe Rafferty.
‘We were then able to blend that squad a little and bring in Ryley and Paddy at 20 and 21 at thetime,whobothaffectedthe team straight away.
‘I suppose that’s the sweet spot.Iftheycanhelpusachieve success next year, whether they are 19 or 29, we are open to both.’
Pompey are targeting adding 9-10 players to their squad this summer.
And among those they are eyeing up are 22-year-old Di’Shon Bernard and 28-yearold Matt Macey, who have both impressed while on loan.
Hughesadded:‘Wedowant some good young players because it’s exciting.
‘If you asked the fans who they've enjoyed watching, I know Ryley has become an almost cult hero straight away as a young player that has achieved success.’