Portsmouth boss delivers transfer latest on Reading target Matt Ritchie – and Abdoulaye Kamara exit update

Pompey are keen to offload the out-of-favour trio before the September 1 deadline

John Mousinho remains hopeful that Reading target Matt Ritchie will leave Pompey before the transfer window closes.

He also expects Abdoulaye Kamara to leave Fratton Park ‘in the next week or so’.

Pompey are well aware of the issue and are entirely fine with a potential transfer, having stated that they would be willing to void the 35-year-old’s contract to facilitate the move.

Ironically, Noel Hunt’s side will travel to Fratton Park on Tuesday night (7.45pm) for the Carabao Cup, when former teammates Paddy Lane and Mark O’Mahony will face them.

When asked about Ritchie’s condition following Reading’s interest, Mousinho told The News: ‘No development on that so far; Matt is still our player. I have no notion what’s happening on the other end of it.

Mousinho: I think he will leave this window

‘I believe he’ll exit this window. You never know; it all depends on how things go at the club of interest. I am sure there is still a lot of interest in Matt considering his alternatives; he will have a lot to think about.

‘That is something that I hope can happen. If we can find the perfect situation for Matt, it will be great to see him play football again.

Reading have had a dismal start to the League One season, losing their first two games.

Following a setback to Lincoln, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield at the weekend, with former Pompey player Jack Whatmough scoring.

Abdoulaye Kamara made six appearances during a disappointing first season at Fratton Park. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

Lane, who recently joined Hunt’s side for about £250,000, made his full debut with Brighton loanee O’Mahony.

The pair could have quick Fratton reunions tomorrow evening, having both scored for the Blues in the Championship last season when Mousinhi’s side averted relegation with two games to spare.

Meanwhile, former Reading player Tom McIntyre is still available for transfer, despite only returning from injury last week and missing the full friendly calendar.

Mousinho believes the Blues are close to offloading Abdoulaye Kamara, a 20-year-old who was made available for transfer at the start of preseason.

Including Ritchie, none of the trio have been assigned Pompey squad numbers for the 2025-26 season, and even if they stay after the transfer window closes on September 1, they will not be registered for the 25-man Football League team.

‘Something tied up in the next week or so’

Mousinho went on to say that Abdoulaye is in a similar scenario, and a handful of clubs are interested. two we’re trying to have things resolved within the next week or two.

‘Tom has been training; he fully trained on Friday, so he just needs a little more time on the training surface to regain his fitness, and then we’ll see.

‘Certainly, if there is any interest, we would not stand in Tom’s way.’

 

 

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