Blues seeking players who can ‘take us to the next level’ – Mousinho

‘If you look at the recruitment we did in the first window it was Matt Macey as a keeper on loan, then Ryley Towler and

Paddy Lane who we bought. Then we bought in Di’shon Bernard who is another really good prospect.

‘That’s the sort of strategy we were working on to make the football club better in the future.

‘It’s been a combination this year but, particularly in January, it was about making sure we had enough players to get us over the line.

‘Having said, that, when we recruited in January there were still players we thought could go to the next level who could improve.

‘So we are still sticking to that strategy as a football club and making sure we get the combination between being competitive, buying players who can make us better and hopefully take Portsmouth to the next level.

‘Then they are assets for the football club and that’s great as well.’

Towler was 19 and Lane 20 when they arrived at Fratton Park in the January 2023 transfer window.

Last summer saw the arrivals of Poole (25 when he signed), Yengi (24), Anthony Scully (24), Sparkes (22) and Christian Saydee (21).

Terry Devlin was just 19 when he arrived, while loanees Alex Robertson and Abu Kamara were both 20 and Tino Anjorin 21.

In this year’s January window, Lang and Mcintyre were both 25 while Owen Moxon had turned 26 just a fortnight before he was signed.

Again, Pompey went for a youthful loan option that month, with 21-year-old Myles Peart-harris arriving.

Since Mousinho has been head coach, the Blues have not signed a single thirtysomething - though Will Norris has celebrated his 30th birthday since being part of last summer’s influx of new faces.

Of the players that faced Wigan last weekend, only three were 30 over – Marlon Pack (33), Norris (30) and Sean Raggett (30).

Elsewhere, Connor Ogilvie is 28 and both Conor Shaughnessy and Colby Bishop are 27.

Lee Evans, brought in on a short-term contract earlier this year, celebrates his 30th birthday this summer.