This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Portsmouth are allegedly interested in signing Reading midfielder Harvey Knibbs.
According to RDG Today, Pompey is one of several Championship clubs interested in signing the 26-year-old, including Sheffield United and Oxford United.
Reading manager Noel Hunt has conceded that there is genuine interest in Knibbs’ talents, but only a “good offer” will compel his team to sell.
The midfielder has yet to play in any preseason games, fueling questions over his future at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. However, this absence has been attributed to injury difficulties.
Miltos Ioannidis, a Portsmouth fan pundit for Football League World, believes Pompey should sign Knibbs this summer, but is concerned about his team’s ability to do so.
Portsmouth backed in pursuit of Harvey Knibbs
“Harvey Knibbs is a player that we seem to keep getting linked with every summer,” Miltos told ESPN. “But he’s a player I’d gladly welcome.
“Considering that he’s been putting up some extremely good stats in League One for Reading and Cambridge United.
“I’m not sure how likely it is that we’ll sign him because he’s a guy we’ve been associated with on multiple occasions, so I’m waiting to see where this interest leads.
“He’s been putting up some really great stats in the league below us, but what we need are talented players; we don’t have to attempt to get established players.
“Callum Lang was not a Championship-proven player, but he demonstrated his ability to play at that level prior to this season.
“I’m keeping my cards close to my chest right now because it’s unclear whether we can get a move over the line; we’ve been getting linked with this guy for three or four consecutive summer transfer windows now.”
Harvey Knibbs would be a solid signing for Portsmouth, but they face strong competition
It’s easy to see why John Mousinho and his teammates are vying for Knibbs’ services, as the midfielder has been in excellent form in recent seasons.
Knibbs scored 14 goals in League One last season, finishing as the Royals’ leading scorer, and added two more goals in the EFL Trophy. This saw him build on his previous first season with the club in 23/24, when he scored 11 goals and assisted six others.
| Harvey Knibbs’ two League One seasons at Reading, per Transfermarkt | ||
| Season | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 45 | 43 |
| Goals | 11 | 14 |
| Assists | 6 | 6 |
These are fantastic goal contribution figures from the middle of the park and would be a valuable asset to Pompey next season.
However, the other clubs rumored to be interested in Knibbs could prove to be the most formidable obstacle for Portsmouth.
Sheffield United lost in the play-offs last season and will be anxious to return to the top level.
This would be an extremely appealing option for Knibbs, and Pompey may find it difficult to compete with during negotiations.
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