Portsmouth will be hoping Southampton, West Brom and Leeds United fail in the play-offs: View | OneFootball

Abu Kamara has illuminated Fratton Park during his time on loan at Portsmouth this season, but a summer pursuit of the attacker might be off the cards for Pompey if Norwich fail to achieve play-off promotion.

The 20-year-old played a pivotal part in Portsmouth’s successful League One campaign. Kamara has enjoyed a lucrative breakthrough season, contributing with eight goals and 10 assists across 44 matches. Despite his success for the club this season, a Portsmouth offer for the player could fall on deaf ears if Norwich fail to progress past strong play-off opposition in the Championship.

As it stands, the Canaries face an uphill battle to achieve promotion to the top-flight. The side from Norfolk may have to play two clubs that dropped out of the Premier League last season:Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are all prospective play-off opponents with the potential to finish third and fourth. The forecast play-offs look to be incredibly tough to call this campaign.

If David Wagner’s side are to be beaten, Norwich may take the opportunity to introduce Kamara into the fold by August as the player looks to reproduce his third-tier success in the league above. If Portsmouth are to try and prize the prospect away, the club will have to field a substantial offer to secure his permanent return as cross-division rivals.

Therefore, the best outcome for John Mousinho and his promotion winning side in this season's Championship play-offs would be a Norwich win at Wembley in May. As a result, Pompey will be hoping the Canaries' play-off rivals: West Brom and two of Southampton, Leeds, Ipswich or Leicester City come up short this year.

Kamara to Portsmouth a good fit, but Pompey should not overpay

Although there is no guarantee that Norwich would opt to send Kamara back to Portsmouth if the Canaries are successful in their play-off effort, they may prioritise continuity for the developing player.

A return to familiar surroundings, to operate in a similar system under Mousinho with recognisable teammates should see Kamara well-placed to carry over his positive form into next season.

The versatile attacker has been Pompey’s second-highest contributor of goals and assists this League One campaign. Kamara has regularly contributed in important moments for the side and, while many young attackers are often criticised for a lack of material output, the 20-year-old has the impressive metrics to accompany his superb performances this season.

Although another loan spell would be ideal for the attacker, especially if Norwich are to be promoted this season, his parent club may have their hand forced into parting ways with Kamara permanently in the upcoming transfer window. His current deal is set to expire in 2025. If terms for an extension cannot be agreed with the player soon, this summer may be seen as the optimal time for Norwich to cash in. Previously, FLW’s Norwich City pundit Zeke Downes suggested that the exciting talent should be valued at around £10 million.

If Portsmouth were to stump up the eight-figure sum, Kamara would rank as the club's joint-third most expensive outlay. It’s hard to see the Hampshire-based club investing so heavily in Kamara, despite the player's uncapped potential. Pompey should invest holistically in their squad this transfer window. Next season will be the club's first campaign back in the Championship since 2012, sacrificing the overall quality of the team for one big signing could be detrimental to their success in the second tier.

As things stand in the Championship, Norwich will be joined by Leeds, Southampton and West Brom in the play-offs. However, the tight nature of the division means that things can change quite drastically. We don't know who will finish third and fourth yet, whilst West Brom and Norwich have work to do to secure fifth and sixth.

With three games remaining, Norwich are six points clear of the chasing pack vying for the remaining play-off spot. Hull City currently occupy seventh place, but while the Tigers have a game in hand to make up ground over the Canaries, Wagner will be optimistic that his side can maintain the points advantage with favourable fixtures upcoming on the run in and some electric 2024 form behind them.

Both Bristol City and Swansea are set to visit Carrow Road before Norwich travel to Birmingham City on the final day. At this stage, Norwich will be thankful for their established points buffer and will be confident that their season will stretch into the middle of May.

There, they will be underdogs, but two of Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester and Southampton will be having to pick themselves up off the canvas after missing out on the top-two, whilst West Brom will have to find the energy to go again after, essentially, knowing their fate for quite some time.

For Portsmouth supporters, they have a clear team to root for in the Championship play-off race. They will be gunning for the underdog. Championship