Supporters in favour of recruiting young – but condition must be met
POMPEY fans have backed the club’s strategy of targeting young, up-and-coming players during the forthcoming summer transfer window.
But the collective thumbs up to the approach comes with a caveat – those identified must be first-team ready.
Meanwhile, adding already proven quality also remains high on supporters’ wish lists as they look to avoid a seventh-straight season in League One.
Danny Cowley’s transfer remit – which would see the Blues make a welcome profit further down the line if those signed were to become a success at Fratton Park – has already seen a host of youngsters linked with moves to the south coast.
Swansea duo Kyle Joseph and Morgan Whittaker are just two, Spurs’ Kion Etete is another – as is Bristol Rovers front man Aaron Collins.
Realistically, not all will find their way to PO4, but they give a good understanding of the type of player Pompey are tracking as they look to progress from last term’s 10thplaced finish.
With the prospect of Blues making money from such an approach, it’s a transfer strategy which the Fratton faithful are on board with.
Indeed, the results of our latest Big Pompey Survey demonstrate that 86.6 per cent of those who took part back the approach, with only 13.4 per cent looking sceptically upon it.
Off that majority verdict, 27.8 per cent agreed that it made financial sense – and stipulated it was for that season why they favour the move.
Yet, 58.8 per cent insisted those targeted must be readymade first-team players.
According to our survey, that can’t afford to happen this time around, with fans wanting young permanent signings who can make a difference now and not further down the line.
That desire to trust in talented young players was evident as well when we asked: ‘How would you like Pompey to recruit this summer?’
The top reply was young EFL players who are hungry and can improve, which accounted for 38.3 per cent of the vote.
That was backed up by a further 7.3 per cent believing that Pompey should do all they can to identify young Premier League players who have been released by topflight clubs.