Football fans are quickly returning their focus to club football following England’s second consecutive loss in a European Championship final. Portsmouth supporters, in particular, are eagerly awaiting their team’s return to the second division after a ten-year hiatus.
To prepare for the challenge of the upcoming season, the Blues have already added Jordan Williams, Josh Murphy, Sam Silvera, Reuben Swann, and Jordan Archer to their roster. Though the transfer front has been a little quieter lately, sporting director Rich Hughes recently gave The News the assurance that “everything is progressing nicely” in terms of more arrivals, sending a clear indication that more transactions at Fratton Park are imminent.
With just over three weeks until the new season begins, in the interim, we examine all the major transfer news from Portsmouth’s 2024–25 Championship rivals.
Sheffield United and Coventry battle to land goalkeeper
Sheffield United and Coventry City have both set their sights on Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper Michael Cooper, according to reports from the Sheffield Star.
Cooper has accumulated 151 league games throughout his tenure at Home Park and has been Plymouth’s first choice custodian since 2020. Prior to earning promotion to the Championship in 2023, the 24-year-old was notable for being named to the League One Team of the Season for two straight seasons.
Wayne Rooney, the new manager of Plymouth, thinks highly of Cooper and says the player is part of his long-term plans. The young player’s contract with Devon is set to expire in the summer, but he has just declined an opportunity to stay longer at the team.
The Blades and Sky Blues, who both want to get promoted to the Premier League this season, are taking an interest in this issue. The two Championship teams are now the front-runners to recruit Cooper this summer, but if Sam Johnstone left Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace of the Premier League may also make a move for the player, according to sources from the Star.
Currently, former Blade Dean Henderson is the Eagles’ first-choice goalie, and Johnstone is waiting to make a decision about his future until he has a clear idea of how much playing time he will get next season.
Former Huddersfield Town man leaves West Brom
Former Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest defender Michael Hefele has confirmed that he will be leaving his role as first team assistant coach at West Brom after an 18-month stint in the West Midlands. Hefele helped steer the Baggies to the Championship play-offs last term before falling short in the semi-final against Southampton.
“Albion can confirm first-team assistant coach Michael Hefele has today departed the club to pursue a new challenge overseas,” the West Brom statement states.
In December 2022, the former Huddersfield Town player became a member of Carlos Corberan’s backroom crew. The team wishes “Hef” luck in his future endeavours and appreciates him for his services to Albion.
