Portsmouth

Portsmouth are now favourites to win the race to sign Estonian midfielder Rocco Shein. Cardiff City and Millwall have also shown interest in the 22-year-old who currently plays for Fredrikstad in the Norwegian top flight. (Fredrikstad Blad - in Norwegian), external

Want more EFL transfer gossip? Read more of Friday's headlines here.

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you have got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 15 August 2026 - QPR (H)

• 10 October 2026 - Southampton (A)

• 24 October 2026 - Millwall (H)

• 26 December 2026 - Watford (H)

• 29 December 2026 - Millwall (A)

• 1 January 2027 - Birmingham City (A)

• 27 February 2027 - Southampton (H)

• 1 May 2027 - West Ham (A)

See Portsmouth's full fixture list here.

Portsmouth have opened talks with UD Almeria striker Marko Milovanovic. The 22-year-old has 12 months left on his contract with the Spanish Segunda Division side but spent last season on loan with Alveca in Portugal. (The News), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at - gossip column here.

The EFL will reveal its fixture list for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.

Want to know who your team will face on opening day? The fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that is not all.

The draws for the group stage of the Vertu Trophy and the first round of the Carabao Cup will also take place.

So check back on 25 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

Portsmouth have reignited their interest in signing Dundee's Scottish defender Luke Graham, 22, who is also wanted by Scottish Premiership giants Rangers. (The Herald), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Portsmouth, Preston North End and QPR have all been linked with a move for Swansea City's 26-year-old English right-back Josh Key. (Football League World), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Friday's full gossip column here.

Portsmouth have been heavily linked with a move for Dutch midfielder Gibson Yah from Eerste Divisie side FC Volendam, whose sporting director Patrick Busby said he does not expect the 22-year-old to remain at the club next season. (Portsmouth News), external

For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Can Portsmouth nail the summer transfer window?

They certainly did in John Mousinho and Richard Hughes' first summer together in 2023, constructing a squad that won promotion from League One.

Three of last season's first choice back four arrived in that summer. The past two years have been more of a mixed bag, with Championship survival requiring good January windows.

They still need to secure their own free agents. New deals have been offered to Zak Swanson and Connor Ogilvie but no announcements have been made. It is understood the club remain confident that both will be Pompey players again next season.

That would take the squad up to 25 senior players, effectively needing someone to leave for every player over the age of 21 coming in. Given there is plenty of strengthening required this is likely to mean a good few departures.

Terry Devlin was courted by Wrexham in January and there remains every chance Pompey's player of the season will be off. That move would boost Portsmouth's spending power. It will be interesting to see if Adrian Segecic's excellent end to the season attracts any suitors.

Ibane Bowat made some key contributions last season but was down the pecking order of centre-backs. He turns 24 in September and needs regular football. Jordan Williams has impressed at times at Fratton Park but also will want more league starts than he got last season.

Luke Le Roux had a difficult first season but may get another chance. Harvey Blair has so far failed to deliver on his undoubted potential. Makenzie Kirk needs a loan to get more opportunities. More ruthless moves might be required to make space.

In terms of additions there are clear priorities. Portsmouth never successfully replaced Matt Ritchie on the right wing, they must do this summer. A partner who compliments Ebou Adams is needed in midfield, although it would be naive to write off Marlon Pack making a number of contributions again.

Strikers are usually the hardest position to find but Pompey have to have one ready to start on the opening day if Colby Bishop cannot rediscover the form he showed prior to last season.

Sporting director Hughes has already said the return of last season's loanee Conor Chaplin is unlikely. It is understood the futures of loan wingers Millenic Alli and Gustavo Cabellero are most likely to lie away from Fratton Park.

Pompey fans love a returning former player but free agents Jed Wallace and Adam Webster are unlikely to join.

Abu Kamara has become the Ben Thompson for a new generation - a player who had an excellent loan spell but is probably destined for that to be the extent of their Pompey career. That won't stop his name constantly being brought up on social media.

Perhaps most crucially though it appears Portsmouth will hang on to their highly-rated head coach Mousinho. One day surely someone will poach him but Pompey fans are extremely relieved it is yet to happen.

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Kenny Jackett arrived at Fratton Park at a strange time.

The club had just won promotion from League Two but manager Paul Cook had walked away to join Wigan Athletic.

Michael Eisner's purchase of the club from the Pompey Supporters Trust was being completed. The League Two promotion side was breaking up, with key players Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle having already departed.

For the first 18 months, Jackett did as well anyone possibly could have in the Pompey hotseat.

In his first season, his newly-promoted side threatened the League One playoffs.

In the second, the team were top at Christmas. Despite a memorable EFL Trophy final win over Sunderland in March, his team couldn't quite reach the Championship. The 88 points won that season was an excellent achievement. Promotion on a modest budget would have been a stunning effort.

Jackett kept his emotions to himself. He would stand arms folded on the touchline deep in thought. He once explained he was always trying to think if he needed to change something or make a substitution. He seemed the calmest man in the stadium.

It was difficult to get to know Kenny and to understand exactly what made him tick. He kept the media at arm's length, perhaps understandably so. But he also kept his players at a distance. Something he felt made it easier to make difficult decisions on who to play and when.

Being distant to the media is different to being rude though.

He was a gentleman to deal with, happy to answer absolutely any question thrown his way at length and always polite. Many interviews and press conferences are delayed or late. Not Kenny's. His weekly chat with the media started as the clock struck one. I genuinely cannot remember an occasion he was even five minutes late.

He couldn't achieve his ultimate goal of winning promotion at Portsmouth but he did a better job than many give him credit for. His football wasn't always the prettiest but he knew how to organise a team.

To manage in the EFL for nearly 20 years requires talent, determination and incredible mental strength. Kenny had those in abundance. His passing at the age of just 64 is a sad day.

Dundee United's Luke Graham one to watch? Terry Devlin to Wrexham? What happened between Pompey boss John Mousinho and Bristol City?

BBC Radio Solent's Andy Moon offers his own insights on the contracts and transfer rumours at Portsmouth and why he thinks Mousinho is set to stay at Fratton Park.

Listen to the full update on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

"They've invested about £60m in nine years so you're talking about £6.5m a year, which is a pretty substantial amount of money.

"They've spent £25m on Fratton Park - that's a positive - and money spent on the training ground which is probably the biggest infrastructure spend in Portsmouth's history.

"But Pompey still have a long way to go, infrastructure-wise, to be a solid Championship club."

BBC Radio Solent's Chris Wise and the station's Portsmouth commentator Andy Moon discuss the positive and negative impact of the Eisner family since they bought the Championship club in 2017.

Listen to more episodes of 'Who Needs Mourinho?' on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth and Birmingham City have been fined for a confrontation which happened during their 1-1 draw on the final day of the season.

The FA determined that both clubs failed to ensure their players didn't behave in an improper manner following an incident in the 80th minute of the match at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth have been fined £53,125 and Birmingham have been fined £85,000.

Both clubs have admitted the charge against them.