Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Willo of Whiteley]

Intrigued to know who or where these people are.

It could be true, I’ve seen little to know rumours about him since the supposed “home sickness” reports months ago.

[Give it to Ron]

Linked with Justin Deveney Crystal Palace  but Alan Nixon so maybe just rumour 

Edited 10 hours ago by Give it to Ron

[Lighthouse]

2 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

There's a difference between "signing better players" and "making better signings". JWP's good enough to start at the top of the Championship, but not good enough to start in the Champions League. I think someone who might develop into the latter would be a better signing than JWP, even if not a better player next season.

It's Oli McBurnie all over again; do we want someone good enough for this level but not for the ones above, or do we look for a YHGTI diamond in the rough and risk ending up with a Downs? I'd rather take the risk in this case when we already have Jander/Downes/Bragg in midfield, have a couple of other academy players who could benefit from 900 minutes or so of Championship football, and have a scouting team that found Fernandes and Jander in back-to-back years so have proven they can find good young midfield prospects.

We’ll have to disagree on that. I get that there’s a business need for a reasonable proportion of players with resale value but I’ll worry about the Champions League when we get there.

If we don’t get promoted this season then it’s a real issue financially. That being the case I’d rather sign a 30 year old Rasiak than a 19 year old with a 50:50 chance of turning into Mo Salah or Nicholas Bignall.

[Lord Duckhunter]

On 04/07/2026 at 09:20, Cuddles said:

Well chatGPT is wrong as he was / is the top free kicker taker in the league.

He wouldn’t even be the top free kick taker in the side, let alone the league. 
 

When was the last time he scored one? 

[Patches O Houlihan]

23 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

I really cant decide if JWP would be a good idea or not. I wouldnt want him coming back as an automatic starter ahead of Jander (if still here), Downes and Bragg but he would be an excellent option off the bench. Not sure he would be happy with that but tbh I cant see a Premier League club taking a chance on him after a not great move to West Ham and pretty piss poor loans at Forest and Burnley. 

23 hours ago, 2Morrow said:

JWP is adequate cover for Azaz and Downes & Jander/Charles. Good role model for Bragg breaking in. Can also do a job at RB, though a bit small more robust than Jelert was and it would give Bree a break. He broke through at RW/RM so in a long season could pop up there. 

I wouldn't want him to be the Jander & Charles replacement of both went, but sub CM is cool.

For free or a subsidised loan for 1 season (ideal as could then be a free if it works out) its not exactly high risk.

Leaves moolah for first choice CB if THB goes, a Stewart replacement, a winger or CAM cover to replace edozie and blank. 

Depending on who leaves, the main gaps are ST, CAM cover, LW cover, CB partner for THB, RB cover.

The way Tonda plays I'm not sure 2026 JWP would be a great fit for the Downes/Jander/Bragg role.

BUT - renown professionalism, leadership ability, superb availability, for years he covered more ground than virtually the entire PL, great passer and free kick taker and he has good awareness and vision, if not always the pace to execute.

I could see him playing the Azaz role potentially - dropping deep to collect the ball and then pinging Beckhamesque passes to the front three. He probably still has the engine to be matching the ground that Azaz covers, and when on the few occasions he was played in a more attacking role he did pretty well as far as I remember. 

JWP as Azaz understudy principally; plus CDAJFU at RB and Midfield if we get an injury situation.

Thoughts?

[beatlesaint]

19 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

The way Tonda plays I'm not sure 2026 JWP would be a great fit for the Downes/Jander/Bragg role.

BUT - renown professionalism, leadership ability, superb availability, for years he covered more ground than virtually the entire PL, great passer and free kick taker and he has good awareness and vision, if not always the pace to execute.

I could see him playing the Azaz role potentially - dropping deep to collect the ball and then pinging Beckhamesque passes to the front three. He probably still has the engine to be matching the ground that Azaz covers, and when on the few occasions he was played in a more attacking role he did pretty well as far as I remember. 

JWP as Azaz understudy principally; plus CDAJFU at RB and Midfield if we get an injury situation.

Thoughts?

He'd be more mobile around the pitch than Azaz thats for sure! Yeah he could do that, he was certainly effective under Nathan Jones playing a more forward role. 

But this rumour is only cos Blackmore put his name out there in a fishing expedition isnt it ?

[Saint Neil]

6 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

But this rumour is only cos Blackmore put his name out there in a fishing expedition isnt it ?

A poster a few pages back said his nans dogs friends hairdresser is ITK and that its a done deal.

[StrangelyBrown]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

The way Tonda plays I'm not sure 2026 JWP would be a great fit for the Downes/Jander/Bragg role.

BUT - renown professionalism, leadership ability, superb availability, for years he covered more ground than virtually the entire PL, great passer and free kick taker and he has good awareness and vision, if not always the pace to execute.

I could see him playing the Azaz role potentially - dropping deep to collect the ball and then pinging Beckhamesque passes to the front three. He probably still has the engine to be matching the ground that Azaz covers, and when on the few occasions he was played in a more attacking role he did pretty well as far as I remember. 

JWP as Azaz understudy principally; plus CDAJFU at RB and Midfield if we get an injury situation.

Thoughts?

I can't see him playing the Azaz role - he doesn't have much by the way of creativity. He's a not especially gifted player who has made up for his deficiencies by being incredibly hard working and professional.

If we lose Jander then he would be an ok option. As a Charles replacement again could be an option, but I always thought he played his best football in the downes role which we also have Bragg to cover so he would seem to be a third player for one role when we have other holes to fill.

[bangkoksaint]

JWP strengthens every squad in the Championship. If he is on a free and we have the opportunity to take him back then we’d be bonkers to turn it down. He’s the ultimate professional and if he’s getting a game every week then great, that’s because, barring injury to others, he’s earned it and is performing. I’ll take that

[Patrick Bateman]

44 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

JWP strengthens every squad in the Championship. If he is on a free and we have the opportunity to take him back then we’d be bonkers to turn it down. He’s the ultimate professional and if he’s getting a game every week then great, that’s because, barring injury to others, he’s earned it and is performing. I’ll take that

I agree. He's like Romeu with the professionalism and experience within and around the squad but, and I mean no disrespect to Romeu, he will be much more useful on the pitch, occasionally. 

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

The way Tonda plays I'm not sure 2026 JWP would be a great fit for the Downes/Jander/Bragg role.

BUT - renown professionalism, leadership ability, superb availability, for years he covered more ground than virtually the entire PL, great passer and free kick taker and he has good awareness and vision, if not always the pace to execute.

I could see him playing the Azaz role potentially - dropping deep to collect the ball and then pinging Beckhamesque passes to the front three. He probably still has the engine to be matching the ground that Azaz covers, and when on the few occasions he was played in a more attacking role he did pretty well as far as I remember. 

JWP as Azaz understudy principally; plus CDAJFU at RB and Midfield if we get an injury situation.

Thoughts?

Not for me.

[SuperSAINT]

 

[benjii]

JWP could compete for the Charles/Jander role, as well as the Azaz role, probably do a job on the right, and potentially at right back if needed.

If he would take sensible Champ wages and isn't physically degraded then he'd be a great signing and would offer a lot to the match day squad, even if it's as a utility option.

[Toadhall Saint]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

JWP could compete for the Charles/Jander role, as well as the Azaz role, probably do a job on the right, and potentially at right back if needed.

If he would take sensible Champ wages and isn't physically degraded then he'd be a great signing and would offer a lot to the match day squad, even if it's as a utility option.

You had me agreeing with Charles/Jander but lost me with Azaz.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Sort of signing we should be after although he might need a good pre-season to work off all of the complimentary carbs at 
PNE….

[Badger]

4 hours ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I can't see him playing the Azaz role - he doesn't have much by the way of creativity. He's a not especially gifted player who has made up for his deficiencies by being incredibly hard working and professional.

If we lose Jander then he would be an ok option. As a Charles replacement again could be an option, but I always thought he played his best football in the downes role which we also have Bragg to cover so he would seem to be a third player for one role when we have other holes to fill.

Agree he doesn’t seem an alternative option to Azaz to me.

Although JWP would strengthen the MF options I don’t see him as a replacement for Jander should he leave. Jander is a far more dynamic player in how he moves the ball around. 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Sort of signing we should be after although he might need a good pre-season to work off all of the complimentary carbs at 
PNE….

Think he’s heavily linked with Celtic.

Dont know a lot about him, what does he bring ? Would he be the Azaz alternative option ? 

[Gloucester Saint]

59 minutes ago, Badger said:

Think he’s heavily linked with Celtic.

Dont know a lot about him, what does he bring ? Would he be the Azaz alternative option ? 

He would be probably be the alternative 10 Dragan referred to as a priority to take the load off Azaz, as one of many options I’m sure.

Pompey Pravda covering the story now as well as their scorching three incomings https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-fc-news-championship-transfer-latest-southampton-alfie-devine-preston-spurs-west-ham-everton-dwight-mcneil-8778841

[Baird of the land]

8 hours ago, Give it to Ron said:

Linked with Justin Deveney Crystal Palace  but Alan Nixon so maybe just rumour 

Good player, versatile too.

[Chez]

On 04/07/2026 at 08:15, Charlie Wayman said:

We don't need anybody at the moment until Charles decides where his future lies

 

Chez:

Not sure JWP can be described as a journeyman. 

Chat GTP:

Competent, reliable and experienced but not considered exceptional or at the top of their field.

• In Sports: An athlete who is competent but typically moves from team to team (or plays reliably without reaching superstar status) is often referred to as a journeyman.

[Nolan]

9 minutes ago, Chez said:

 

• In Sports: An athlete who is competent but typically moves from team to team (or plays reliably without reaching superstar status) is often referred to as a journeyman.

AI war.....

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

To call JWP a ‘journeyman’ is bizarre in my book. 20 years at Southampton and 3 at West Ham, very likely not his choice to be loaned out there to a couple of clubs, that’s not the definition of a ‘journeyman’ for me.

[SuperSAINT]

2 hours ago, Badger said:

Think he’s heavily linked with Celtic.

Dont know a lot about him, what does he bring ? Would he be the Azaz alternative option ? 

Can play the Azaz role but also slightly deeper. Not defensive, but like the “advanced 8” role.