Portsmouth have displayed an interest in forward Karamoko Dembele who has been on-loan with League One side Blackpool this season. It is believed that he is the type of player that John Mousinho wants in the forward areas due to his versatility.
Dembele has been one of the standout players in League One this season and excelled during his loan spell with Blackpool With nine goals and 14 assists to his name in all competitions this season. He’s up there as one of the most productive players in the EFL, and those contributions certainly played a part in the Tangerines’ final position.
Although they did not meet their pre-season goal of promotion, or even making the play-offs, it wasn’t exactly a disaster of a season for Neil Critchley’s men, who still had a chance of making the play-offs on the final day. A 3-2 loss to Reading over the weekend would however kill any ambitions off, and they’d end up finishing eighth.
Had it not been for Dembele as well as fellow loanee Jordan Rhodes, then the Tangerines could’ve been a lot further down the table.
After a productive season for the 21-year-old, it seems as if he is crying out for a step up, and Portsmouth could well give him the option of doing just that, having been crowned League One champions on their way to the second tier.
Although Dembele is contracted at French Ligue 1 side Brest until 2026, he doesn’t exactly seem to be in their current plans and a move back to England could help the youngster continue to progress.
Having been held in extremely high regard when he broke onto the scene for Celtic as a 17-year-old, the forward’s career trajectory has somewhat halted over the last couple of seasons. However this year with Blackpool has really allowed him to put his name back on the map and he’s gaining plenty of admirers.
A move to Fratton Park would certainly suit the youngster as it would not only be a step-up, but he could also thrive in Mousinho’s system. Given his versatility he could play across a number of positions, something that the manager likes and will no doubt want to utilise.
It won’t be easy for Portsmouth, with the likes of Everton, West Ham, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all monitoring the situation, but for the best move for the forward’s career does seem to be in the Championship rather than the Premier League at the minute.
It’s still early days, but Dembele could thrive for Pompey and he’s certainly the type of player that fans will love at Fratton Park.
Writer’s View
This would be a great signing if Portsmouth were able to pull it off but the fact that he is contracted with Brest until 2026 would incur quite the significant fee. Nonetheless Dembele is still an option they should pursue, with Mousinho supposedly a big fan of his work.
The manager knows that he already has a squad capable of being competitive in the Championship, but one or two signings are needed if they really want to push on. A busy summer awaits, and this certainly won’t be the first time we see a forward linked with a move to the club.
Senior Editor
