Portsmouth's hectic summer transfer window predicted with Man Utd, Ipswich and Newcastle deals

It has been a solid start to life back in the Championship for John Mousinho and his Portsmouth side.

After romping to the League One title last season, the Pompey boss has already been active in the summer transfer window and has already seen his new additions make an impact during the first two games of the season. A daunting trip to last season’s beaten Championship play-off finalists Leeds United opened up the season and it was navigated in spectacular fashion as the two sides equally shared six goals in a dramatic contest. A rather more low key affair was played out when second tier football returned to Fratton Park last weekend as Pompey battled to a goalless draw against a Luton Town side that were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Although challenging games against North East duo Middlesbrough and Sunderland are next on the agenda, there is a desire to retain focus in the transfer market as Pompey aim to continue boosting their squad. But how could the final week of the summer transfer play out? We fire up Football Manager 2024 to assess how the world’s most popular managerial simulation predicts the next nine days could play out for Mousinho.

Goalkeepers

Mousinho retained faith with the three goalkeeping options he currently possesses following the recent signing of Austrian stopper Nicolas Schmid.

Mousinho’s goalkeeping options: Will Norris, Jordan Archer, Nicolas Schmid

Defenders

It was a case of one-in, one-out at the back as Ryley Towler was allowed to join League Two side MK Dons in a £150k deal. The Pompey boss took until the final week of the window to add to his defensive ranks after handing a one-year deal to Newcastle United stalwart Paul Dummett, who becomes the second former Magpie to move to Fratton Park following Matt Ritchie’s Pompey return earlier this month.

Mousinho’s defensive options: Tom McIntyre, Regan Poole, Conor Shaughnessy, Jacob Farrell, Connor Ogilvie, Jordan Williams, Zak Swanson, Paul Dummett.

Midfielders

This time it was two-in, one-out after Pompey swooped to sign Manchester United youngster Jayce Fitzgerald on a season-long loan deal and Preston North End’s Ryan Ledson arrived on a permanent deal - but the duo replaced Ben Stevenson after he moved to second tier rivals Millwall in a £100k switch.

Mousinho’s midfield options: Abdoulaye Kamara, Joe Morrell, Andre Dozzell, Owen Moxon, Marlon Pack, Terry Devlin, Tom Lowery, Matt Ritchie, Jayce Fitzgerald.

Forwards

There were two departures at the top end of the pitch after winger Anthony Scully moved north of the border and joined Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen in a £400k move and Kusini Yengi returned to Australia after the former Western Sydney Wanderers forward joined Central Coast Mariners as Pompey recouped £500k. Just one addition was made as Ipswich Town striker Freddie Ladapo was brought in at a cost of £200k.

Mousinho’s forward options: Sam Silvera, Paddy Lane, Josh Murphy, Elias Sorensen, Gavin Whyte, Callum Lang, Colby Bishop, Christian Saydee, Freddie Ladapo.

In

Schmid (£300k from Blau Weiss Linz), Sorensen (£250k from Esbjerg), Dozzell (free transfer), Ritchie (free transfer), Williams (free transfer), Murphy (free transfer), Archer (free transfer), Kamara (undisclosed from Borussia Dortmund), Farrell (undisclosed from Central Coast Mariners), Swann (undisclosed from AFC Sudbury), Silvera (loan from Middlesbrough), Ladapo (£200k from Ipswich Town), Dummett (free transfer), Fitzgerald (loan from Manchester United), Ledson (£375k from Preston North End)

Outs

Rafferty, Raggett, Evans, Macey, Jewitt-White, Dockerill, (all released), Sparkes (undisclosed to Peterborough United), Steward (loan to Tonbridge Angels), Swann (loan to Havant and Waterlooville), Martin, Schofield, Mnoga, Vincent (all released), Stevenson (£100k to Millwall), Towler (£150k to MK Dons), Yengi (£500k to Central Coast Mariners), Scully (400k to Aberdeen)