'Nothing in that' – Mous on Dembele link
Pompey aren’t in the running for in-demand Karamoko Dembele.
That’s the admission of John Mousinho, despite having previously eyed the Brest winger as a potential recruit.
Former journalist Darren Witcoop had claimed on social media that the Blues had tabled a bid for the 21-yearold, along with Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.
Certainly a number of clubs are monitoring Dembele, who impressed during a season-long loan at Blackpool last term, totalling nine goals in 47 appearances.
Yet Mousinho is adamant talk of Pompey currently trying to buy the highly-regarded attacker is wide of the mark.
He told The News: ‘There’s nothing in that at the moment, that’s another one there’s no preparing or readying a bid!’
Similarly, reports of the Blues lodging a bid for Abu Kamara have been strongly denied by their head coach.
Pompey have already added Josh Murphy and Sammy Silvera to their wing options during the transfer window.
They join Paddy Lane, Anthony Scully and Gavin Whyte in competing for two spots as Mousinho’s men prepare for life in the Championship.
Both Murphy and
Silvera impressed during their first Blues outings in last Tuesday’s 3-1 success over Gosport, with Murphy opening the scoring against the non-leaguers.
Murphy also caught the eye during Saturday’s 2-0 friendly win at Bognor.
Dembele is a product of the Celtic Academy, hitting the headlines in 2016 when he was just 13 after starring in Celtic’s U20 development squad.
Aged 15, he was handed his first professional contract. And just a year later, at 16, he was introduced to Celtic’s senior squad and made his senior debut as a sub in a
2-1 victory over Hearts on the final day of 2018-19.
Dembele represented both Scotland and England at youth level between 2015 and 2021 but is yet to win a call-up for either at senior level.
After an injury-ridden stint, he left Glasgow in 2021 to complete a move to Brest on a free transfer, making just 15 appearances in Ligue 1 during his first season.