Portsmouth keen on taking advantage of European transfer collapse for 18-goal winger | OneFootball

Portsmouth are interested in yet another player from the A-League ahead of the summer window re-opening

Portsmouth are interested in Sydney FC star Adrian Segecic this summer amid a collapsed move to Rapid Vienna.

According to The News, John Mousinho is interested in the winger/attacking midfielder after a standout campaign in the A-League.

The 21-year-old featured 24 times in the league last season, including 14 starts, and contributed 13 goals and two assists, with five goals in the Asian Champions League taking his overall total strikes to 18.

However, his contract at Sydney is now set to expire, making him a free agent and had led to speculation over his future.

Portsmouth interested in Adrian Segecic

It’s understood that Segecic is on Portsmouth’s radar following the collapse of his move to Rapid Vienna, with Austrian outlet Kurier reporting that he is heading to the more "lucrative" second tier of English football instead.

It’s claimed that Mousinho is, in particular, a fan of the A-League and has been scouring the division for top talent, with the likes of Thomas Waddingham, Hayden Matthews and Jacob Farrell all arriving at Fratton Park via that route in recent times.

It remains to be seen whether a formal proposal will be made to sign the midfielder, but it has been reported that a club in the Championship have shown interest in a deal.

Segecic earned Sydney FC’s player of the year award after helping the side come seventh in the A-League table.

However, the impending expiry of his contract means a departure is likely, as he potentially looks to make the switch to European football this summer.

Portsmouth finished 17th in the Championship table last season, solidifying their place in the division after earning promotion from League One in 2024.

Adrian Segecic signing could be promising if Portsmouth can get it over the line

Segecic has performed well in the A-League, and it’s no surprise that he is attracting interest from Europe.

Portsmouth have built up a history of signing players from Australia in recent years, including the likes of Hayden Matthews, Thomas Waddingham, Jacob Farrell and the now departed Kusini Yengi.

Given he’d be a free agent signing, this could be another shrewd piece of business by the Championship club.

While there are no guarantees that he will make a smooth adjustment to English football, he could be the kind of additional firepower in attack that the team needs to improve on their 17th place finish last season.