Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has admitted he expects further interest in Wales international Joe Morrell this summer, speaking to The Portsmouth News.
The midfielder has revelled in plenty of first-team football this season, since returning from the World Cup in December, and has been a key part of the side, despite missing an amount of time through suspension this season.
The club are bracing themselves for a surcharge of interest this summer after the midfielder’s run of form this season, something which was evident even before the departure of Danny Cowley in January.
Who is Joe Morrell?
The 26-year-old central midfielder joined Portsmouth from Luton Town in August 2021, he joined up with Danny Cowley again after working with him during a loan spell from Bristol City with Lincoln City in the 2019/20 season.
During his time at Lincoln, he was an integral part of the team, making 32 appearances, providing four assists along the way, but was unable to find the back of the net for the Imps. However, in June 2020, before he returned to his parent club, he was named player of the season for the club.
As well as this, he represented his country Wales at the World Cup in December, starting all four group-stage games. He also started the country’s last two fixtures against Latvia and Croatia.
This season
Portsmouth have had a mixed season, the departure of Danny Cowley was long overdue as the club went 14 games without a win in the league. But even during that poor form, Morrell has been a consistent presence in the first team at Fratton Park, despite discipline keeping out of the team at some stages this season.
This season, the midfielder has scored once and provided five assists in 28 appearances, but has also been shown 10 yellow cards and two red cards. Saturday’s draw with Derby County saw the Welshman return to the starting XI after a four game suspension and he was able to deliver providing an excellent assist, as Pompey battled to a hard earned draw.
What has been said?
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho fully expects interest to be reignited in their man, as he has helped to turn around the season for Portsmouth, despite the club looking set to miss out on the playoffs.
“Considering his second half of the season, when he has been excellent for us, I would be surprised if there wasn’t interest in Joe.
He has also started the last two games for Wales – Croatia and Latvia – so there are going to be people watching him.”
Should there be interest in him, it’s a compliment to Joe and everything we’re trying to do here. We’ll see what that looks like – hopefully, Joe is still a player for us next season.
Writers View
Morrell has been vital to the club’s second-half form this season, and the exposure to senior international football may be something that makes it difficult to hang on to their man.
This experience is something that clubs at a higher level would be looking for in a player and it would be no surprise to see some clubs in the Championship come knocking for Joe Morrell in the summer, it is up to the club and the player to decide on his future.
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