Portsmouth manager John Mouinsho has announced that the club is interested in signing recent trialist Sean Patton on a permanent basis.
Portsmouth have been trying to add more new faces to their squad this summer, but it’s not just established first-teamers who have been on the radar at Fratton Park. They have already made eight additions, including Andre Dozzell and former Newcastle United players Matt Ritchie and Elias Sørensen. However, aspiring starlets are also needed. Teenage midfielder Reuben Swann was signed from non-league club AFC Sudbury, and more are on the way. Among them is Derry City teenager Sean Patton, who wowed Pompey on trial and has left the south coast side wanting more.
Following his trial earlier this summer, the Blues hope to bring the 18-year-old to Fratton Park. Manager Mousinho acknowledged this while speaking with The News, saying:
“Sean was always going back, so we didn’t have authority to keep him for any longer than we did.
.jpg?width=1200&enable=upscale)
“That’s something we’ll work on. It is not a top priority right now, but we will work on it as things go. I believe Sean performed well enough for us to consider that (a move).
“He’s one for the future, so it would be a development one – hence why it’s not quite a priority at the moment, but he’s definitely one we’re interested in.”
First-team signings will be prioritised at Fratton Park, as would be expected for a squad transitioning from League One to the Championship. However, Portsmouth are demonstrating a desire to guarantee that their ranks are future-proofed as well, and a trade for Patton would do this. More about Patton.
Patton is well regarded in Ireland, where fans expect he will go far in the game, whether with Portsmouth or elsewhere.
The kid is regarded as a goal-scoring threat and has received extensive first-team experience while at Derry City and on loan at Finn Harps, where he progressed through the academy before transferring to Derry.
More about Patton.
Patton is well regarded in Ireland, where fans expect he will go far in the game, whether with Portsmouth or elsewhere.
The kid is regarded as a goal-scoring threat and has received extensive first-team experience while at Derry City and on loan at Finn Harps, where he progressed through the academy before transferring to Derry. He recently signed a new contract with the Irish club, but Pompey will still believe they can lure away the promising youngster.
For the upcoming season, Portsmouth will rely on veteran players with Championship experience to set the example after rising from League One. Players who excelled in the third-tier will need to demonstrate their ability to adapt to the higher level.
Marlon Pack, as well as new acquisitions Jordan Williams and the aforementioned Ritchie, have the potential to become crucial characters given their experience at this level and beyond. However, it would not be surprising if additional experience were added in the last weeks of the transfer window.
Mousinho will be eager to discover a solid blend of veteran players and future stars who can develop into assets, both in terms of what they contribute on the pitch and the profit they
Could generate.
Patton undoubtedly falls into the latter category, though time will tell if a compromise can be reached.
Leave a Reply