Portsmouth Transfer Update: Pompey capture Danny Rose and Matt Clarke

A lot has gone on in the last week at Portsmouth Football Club with summer signings now in full flow.

Manager Paul Cook is clearly eager to build upon last season’s sixth place finish, with automatic promotion being a necessity in 2016/17.

Last week; midfielder Danny Rose became the Blues’ first signing of the off-season after turning down a new contract with Northampton Town, instead agreeing a switch to Fratton Park.

Rose was part of the Northampton squad that were crowned League Two champions – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

He joined the Cobblers from fellow promoted side Oxford United back in February, making 15 appearances on their way to becoming League Two champions.

The 28-year-old told Portsmouth that he was excited to be a part of ‘the biggest club in the division’ and that they were ‘capable of challenging for promotion’.

Pompey have also secured the signing of familiar centre-back Matt Clarke, who spent much of the 2015/16 season down South after being loaned from Ipswich Town.

At just 19 years-old, he looked comfortable in defence and is now used to playing alongside regular starter Christian Burgess at the heart of the back four.

The three-year deal looks to have been well earned after 33 appearances for Portsmouth last season, as well as a goal.

With the deal; however, came the sale of Adam Webster, an academy product with a bright future. Ipswich not only gave Clarke to Portsmouth, but also paid a fee reported to be approximately £750,000, according to the BBC, for the 21-year-old.

The former England Under-19 international was Pompey’s longest serving player having made his debut back in 2012 against West Ham United in the Championship and had turned out a total of 88 times for the Southerners.

The move is a club-record under the current Tractor Boys boss Mick McCarthy.

Centre-back Webster made 35 appearances in all competitions for Pompey last term – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Prior to the start of the new campaign, boss Cook looks to be eyeing a new goalkeeper after former number one Brian Murphy was released at the end of last season.

We’ve already established the importance of consistency between the sticks after five different keepers played for the first-team last season. With Paul Jones remaining and Alex Bass rewarded with his professional contract, Cook may seek to add one more shot-stopper to his squad.

Fans are also waiting to hear if right-back Ben Davies and central-midfielder Danny Hollands are to sign new contracts. Discussions have been in the pipeline, but nothing has been confirmed just yet.

Cook will be hopeful of both players signing a new deal before the squad fly off to Ireland for a couple of pre-season fixtures.