Michael Appleton is set to boost his squad ahead of Saturday's match with Oldham with three new players.
With no available centre backs, the Pompey manager is set to secure the services of two players who can play at the heart of the defence in Johnny Ertl and Darel Russell.
The former was released by Sheffield United at the end of last season and primarily plays as a defensive midfielder. However, the 29-year-old Austrian can play at centre back and will be expected to play there on Saturday.
Ertl has also played for Crystal Palace, Austria Vienna and Sturm Graz and he has also won seven caps for his national side. However, appearances in recent seasons have been limited as he injured his cruciate ligament in March 2011.
Darel Francis Roy G. Russell is another player who predominantly plys his trade in midfield, but again can be moved to centre back if required. Russell has experienced promotion from League One twice with Norwich in 2010 and Charlton last season. He should be an impressive signing.
The third arrival is set to be ex-Barnsley forward Daniel Bogdanovic. The journeyman forward made his biggest impact at the Tykes, scoring 16 goals during the 2009/2010 season before a move to Sheffield United that never really worked out.
Now 32, the Libyan who has scored plenty of goals in minor European leagues may well shine in League One if he can get in the side.
Two players are set to leave today with one departure already confirmed in Keiran Djilali who cancelled his contract by mutual consent this morning.
Looking at the statement on the official site, it seems like Michael Appleton has let him go as he can only have 20 players in his squad with the club in administration and the one area the squad does have some depth is in the wide areas.
Given that Djilali wasn't too impressive in his game against Bournemouth and has barely featured since, it makes sense to let him go with other options in Compton, Walker, Williamson and Harris already in the squad. Picking up little niggly injuries certainly didn't help his cause either.
The second likely departure is a surprise as Sam Magri, a player who cannot even get onto Pompey's bench despite the small squad, is set to be snapped up by Premier League club Queens Park Rangers.
Mark Hughes has been splashing the cash as he looks to buy QPR to top flight survival this season with big names such as Julio Cesar, Jose Bosingwa and Park Ji-Sung signing for the London outfit.
So for Rangers to be on the cusp of signing an 18-year-old defender who is not known to the football world, is a bit of a shock. A medical is taking place today with the deal expected to be completed tomorrow.
How much money Portsmouth will receive for the defender is anybody's guess, although there has been talk of a QPR player moving the other way. Perhaps Shaun Derry could be making a return to Fratton Park?
In other transfer news, Michael Appleton has decided against signing ex-Stoke midfielder Tom Soares and Blackburn midfielder Amine Linganzi who had been training with Pompey.
Source: FOOTYMAD
