Pompey has revived his interest in Hayden Matthews, but they will now have to dig further to apprehend him.
The highly regarded Australian is back on the Blues’ radar for a potential January signing after being targeted last summer.
As Conor Shaughnessy’s frustrating injury problem continues, John Mousinho has made it clear that he is looking for a central defender when the window reopens.
A short-term answer would be to sign a loan player, as Shaughnessy, Regan Poole, Tom McIntyre, Ibane Bowat, and Ryley Towler are already on the roster. Pompey, on the other hand, is interested in the 20-year-old Matthews and is willing to pay a transfer fee to sign him.
Crucially, the Sydney defender’s value has risen following his recent international debut.
Matthews started the Socceroos’ World Cup 2026 qualifier against Bahrain last week, playing alongside Kusini Yengi in a 2-2 draw in which the Pompey player scored twice
That recognition caps a rapid rise for the under-23 international, who had not played A-League football in 11 months. Matthews’ eye-catching progress drew Pompey’s attention in the summer, with the newly promoted Championship club reportedly turning down three bids for the gifted youngster.
They eventually turned to Fulham’s Bowat, who signed for an undisclosed price only to leave without playing due to a season-ending knee injury.
Since then, Matthews has continued to amaze, appearing nine times this season for Sydney, who are currently ranked sixth.
Pompey are now back in the market for the teenager, whom they have been monitoring since failing to sign him in August.
And it might be another A-League signing for sporting director Rich Hughes, who has already signed Yengi, Jacob Farrell, and former Central Coast Mariners winger Sammy Silvera.
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