Portsmouth FC told to consider £2m hurdle in pursuit of Reading FC player
Despite only just turning 22, Charlie Savage has amassed 100 League One appearances already in his young career, and after impressing last season, he is, unsurprisingly, the subject of interest from various Championship clubs.
With Football Insider reporting that newly promoted Wrexham and Birmingham City have joined 2023/24’s League One champions, Portsmouth, in a race to sign the former Manchester United academy man, it seems Reading are set to incur a struggle to ensure Savage stays for a third season at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
However, if he were to leave, the report states that Reading will likely pocket their valued £2 million for his services.
Savage is on his way to being, or in some eyes already is, one of the more exciting young players in the EFL, but FLW’s Portsmouth fan pundit, Miltos Ioannidis, is unsure where he’d fit in Pompey’s side, especially given Callum Lang’s solid form across the 2024/25 campaign.
Portsmouth parting with £2 million for a “back-up” player questioned
Ioannidis admitted to Football League World that he’s not fully clued-up on Charlie Savage’s game, but did state that he is aware that he has substantial qualities.
“I don’t know too much about Savage and the type of player he is,” he said. “But I did see the rumour earlier, and what I do know is that he’s had a great season in League One, and he had very good numbers last season as well.”
The 22-year-old appeared in all but one game for the Royals this season, picking up five goals and nine assists, the latter being the joint-second-most in League One.
“He’s a proven League One player and Reading fans speak very highly of him, so he’s clearly one of their more important players,” he continued.
However, he believes that the £2 million price tag will put Portsmouth off, despite him stating that the club will likely be looking to improve their depth there this summer.
“He plays in a position where we will be looking to bring in a player this summer, but we have Callum Lang there, who plays in a similar position to that of Savage’s.
“We need depth and competition, but I don’t think we would splash two million on someone who could just be a backup.
“That price could put off plenty of sides who may have otherwise held an interest in him – let’s see how it develops.”
Charlie Savage and Callum Lang could co-exist in the same squad if a sale were made
If Charlie Savage did end up at Fratton Park this summer, there is a likelihood that Callum Lang, who has just come off the back of his first 10-goal season in the Championship, wouldn’t have to step aside.
Whilst both John Mousinho and Noel Hunt primarily play 4-3-3 formations, Pompey play more with an attacking midfielder (usually Callum Lang), whilst Hunt’s Reading usually play with Lewis Wing behind Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Savage.
Given Knibbs’ clear attacking qualities, Savage hasn’t played as the out-and-out attack-minded midfielder much this season, and therefore could slot in behind Lang in Portsmouth’s line-up.
With Freddie Potts on his way back to West Ham after his loan spell ended, perhaps Savage could replace him next season, if a deal were to be made.
Portsmouth FC preparing transfer action as duo set to leave Fratton Park this summer
Portsmouth are set to facilitate the exits of two of their centre halves, as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of another season in the Championship next term.
John Mousinho’s side strung together a five-match unbeaten run to close out the campaign, a run of form which ensured their survival in the second tier for another season, with two games to spare.
Pompey’s 16th-place finish means they will have surely achieved their goal for the season, having been promoted from League One as champions back in 2023/24.
However, despite their success this term, it looks set to be a fairly busy summer at Fratton Park, with Mousinho admitting that he feels the squad is too heavy in some areas of the pitch.
Portsmouth are set to sell Tom McIntyre and Ryley Towler
One of those areas is centre back, where the South Coast outfit are already particularly well-stocked heading into the summer window.
According to The Portsmouth News, Pompey are set to sanction the exits of both Tom McIntyre and Ryley Towler to lower the number of centre halves at the club to a more manageable level.
Portsmouth are understood to be keen on the idea of bringing Bristol City loanee Rob Atkinson back to the club, following a successful stint at Fratton Park this term, and could also look to add another centre back to their ranks ahead of 2025/26.
Mousinho has insisted that he wants to work with a group of five central defenders. He told The News: “He (McIntyre) is one of six contracted centre backs we have for next year, and the numbers obviously don’t go.
“We want to carry four, maybe five, but probably not six. I say five because if you look at the number of injuries we’ve had across those players, all of them have picked up significant injuries over the past couple of years, except Ryley (Towler).”
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