BREAKING NEWS : Portsmouth pushing to sign ex-Barnsley star on a free transfer

Portsmouth are set for a big summer transfer window over the course of the next few months.

The 2023/24 campaign was of course a memorable one for those connected with the Fratton Park club.

After 12 seasons away, Pompey secured promotion back to the Championship as League One title winners.

Having been out of the second-tier for so long, there are of course areas of manager John Mousinho’s squad that will need strengthening before the campaign begins again.

One particular position that does look to be in need of reinforcement for Portsmouth, is at right-back.

Pompey short on numbers on the right of defence

There has already been some notable departures from the right-back position at Fratton Park since the end of the campaign.

Haji Mnoga and Joe Rafferty have both already moved on following the expiry of their contracts, with the latter confirmed to be joining Rotherham United.

Meanwhile, Zak Swanson’s future is also up in the air. His contract expires this summer, and while Portsmouth confirmed in their end of season retained list that the option to extend it by a further year has not been taken up, talks are ongoing over his future.

Either way, the club are going to need more depth in that position, if they are to be competitive upon their return to the Championship.

Indeed, Mousinho himself has already admitted that the club may need to sign two right-backs this summer.

So as Portsmouth look to add in that position, it could be argued that they should be turning their attention to who has just left a club they were competing with in League One last season, in the form of Barnsley.

Jordan Williams could be a useful signing for Portsmouth

At the end of the season, where they missed out on promotion to the Championship via the play-offs, Barnsley confirmed that several key players will leave this summer when their contracts expire.

One of those who is moving on to pastures new is Jordan Williams. Having joined the Tykes from Huddersfield Town back in the summer of 2018, the right-back was a regular feature at Oakwell.

In total, Williams has made 201 appearances in all competitions for the club, prior to his departure, and the circumstances could potentially make him a sensible target for Portsmouth as he moves on.

With Pompey on the search for a right-back, the departing Barnsley man is obviously someone who can fill a void that needs to be occupied at Fratton Park.

He would also be a reliable option to do that with, given that during his time with the Tykes, a significant portion of appearances came in the Championship.

That of course, means he is well aware of what is required at this level, with experience that could help guide this squad through a period of adapting to the division.

Indeed, having been an important part of a side that has gone close to promotion back to the second-tier in the last two seasons, he should still be at the sort of level required to do a job for Pompey next season.

Of course, the fact that he is available on a free transfer also looks to be a good thing from a Portsmouth perspective.

Not only does it mean he should be an affordable target, it also ensures that it leaves funds available in the budget to invest in other potential signings at Fratton Park, that will be important next season.

Considering Williams is still only 24-years-old, with time to improve and attract interest from elsewhere, that could also ensure Pompey have an opportunity to make a decent financial profit on him further down the line as well.

With that in mind, it seems that as Portsmouth search for their first signing since winning promotion back to the Championship, Jordan Williams ought to be under consideration at Fratton Park.