Hughes optimistic after challenging transfer window

Portsmouth sporting director Richard Hughes has said that he is optimistic about the squad he has helped build following the completion of the transfer window.

Over the summer Portsmouth added 12 new players to their ranks as they spent what Hughes had previously revealed was a higher budget to other years.

Up-front fees for striker Marko Milovanovic and midfielder Rocco Shein eclipsed their entire transfer budget last summer.

Despite the expensive new additions, some of which have already made a positive impact on the pitch, Hughes revealed that the window was not completely straightforward.

"I'm pleased with a lot of the work that's taken place," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"A big reflection is that it's been one of the more challenging windows that we've had and that's been echoed across the market in terms of the challenges with recruitment to the Championship.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing where the group plays out to be once they get a bit more comfortable with each other and have played a few more games.

"Overall I'm really pleased with the work that we've done and the strength in depth that we've added to the group, I'm optimistic as to where we can go with this squad."

Although Portsmouth recruited strongly over the window, they struggled to secure fees for out of favour players that were looking to leave the club.

Andre Dozzell and Luke Le Roux both left Fratton Park for free, with the latter arriving just last year.

The Blues paid £1m for the South Africa midfielder, who played at the start of the season before appearing to fall down John Mousinho's pecking order, making just 14 league appearances.

The club announced at the start of September that they had reached a mutual agreement for the player to end his contract, external at the club.

Dozzell signed for MLS club DC United earlier in the summer while this week Le Roux earned a move to Belgian top-flight side Cercle Brugge.

"With Luke's situation everyone will be right to point criticism towards myself, John and the recruitment department," Hughes added.

"It's one we have to take and we have to wear that, it was something that didn't work on our part and it didn't work for Luke on the pitch.

"We wanted to find a permanent solution for him to leave and that didn't present itself, we'll take the learnings from this and make sure that it doesn't happen again."