To improve Callum Lang’s circumstances, Portsmouth ought to initiate a Crystal Palace transfer raid.
Portsmouth is now in the top half of the standings after a strong start to the Championship campaign. However, injury concerns have been a big worry for manager John Mousinho so far this season. The selection of wingers that Mousinho has at his disposal is, to put it mildly, limited. Both Callum Lang and Harvey Blair have suffered severe injuries; Lang may be out for eight to twelve weeks.
The Pompey manager has had to manoeuvre around a constantly shifting forward line due in large part to injuries, and Matt Ritchie’s apparent departure from Fratton Park hasn’t helped Mousinho’s squad depth. Pompey must have attacking additions, and the dearth of attacking options is concerning as the transfer window draws to a close. Given that Mousinho has Florian Bianchini, Josh Murphy, and Min-Hyeok Yang as options, Portsmouth may be looking for a short-term move to address their injury crisis; Selhust Park may be the answer.
Portsmouth should be considering Romain Esse, a 20-year-old winger, as a direct replacement for Callum Lang. Esse would be a good substitute for Lang, who would be sidelined for up to 8–12 weeks following surgery on his left hamstring. He could also provide the Pompey assault a boost of speed. Esse made an impression with Millwall in the Championship before joining Crystal Palace at the beginning of the year. Esse made a big impression as a teenager and quickly earned a transfer to the top division, but his Eagles career hasn’t really taken off.
A short-term loan agreement for the young player might be advantageous for both sides since he has shown that he can be a nuisance for Championship defenders. Personally, Portsmouth would gain a raw, talented attacker with the acute ability to beat a man and get dangerous crosses into the box, and Esse would get some much-needed game experience just by being 20 years old. Before joining Palace, Esse played 66 games for the Lions, scoring seven goals and dishing out one assist.
It has been a slow burner for him during his stint in the top flight. The young player, who has made ten appearances for his current team, has struggled to establish himself in the starting lineup due to intense competition from players like Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze, who recently joined Arsenal. Esse might be the best candidate to cover for Lang, who will be away for a while. For the 20-year-old, moving back down to the Championship would be a wise but advantageous move. If he were to sign a short-term loan agreement, he may contribute significantly to Mousinho’s Pompey team.
Murphy on one wing and Esse on the other might end up being a lethal combination. In Lang’s absence, Pompey supporters may be excited by the 30-year-old’s expertise paired with Esse’s youthful, energetic personality. Murphy scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists in the Championship the previous season, and with Esse’s assistance, he might easily reach those totals.
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