Portsmouth face stumbling block in Crystal Palace transfer pursuit | OneFootball

Portsmouth are facing a stumbling block in their pursuit of Crystal Palace under-21 midfielder Hindolo Mustapha.

Portsmouth are facing a stumbling block in their pursuit of Crystal Palace under-21 midfielder Hindolo Mustapha, who is attracting interest across the continent.

Recent reports have suggested that Pompey are interested in securing the talent on loan, with Mustapha set to depart from South London over the summer. However, an update via Fabrizio Romano suggests that Eredivisie giants Ajax and Feyenoord are keen on securing Mustapha's signature on a permanent basis.

Mustapha has been one of Crystal Palace's standout performers in the 2024/25 Premier League 2 season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 19 starts. He scored twice in his side's most recent 6-0 victory against Chelsea in the Premier League 2 playoffs.

Having the chance to watch the youngster in person, manager Mousinho has kept a close eye on the two-cap Sierra Leone international.

Ajax, Feyenoord join Portsmouth in race for Crystal Palace's Hindolo Mustapha

As per the aforementioned reports from Romano, Dutch Eredivisie clubs Ajax and Feyenoord are both keeping tabs on the young talent. Mustapha was also linked with a temporary switch to Walsall in January.

Portsmouth have been linked with Mustapha in recent times, and boss John Mousinho has reportedly made scouting trips to watch the highly-rated youngster in action ahead of a potential move.

However, any such deal could now be set to prove increasingly difficult to execute with stiff continental competition from the likes of Ajax and Feyenoord, both of whom have an esteemed reputation for developing and handing out opportunities to elite-level young talent.

However, while Pompey may not carry the power to negotiate a permanent deal for the youngster, they will potentially be able to guarantee consistent minutes from the offset.

As the club looks to solidify in the Championship after achieving safety, loan deals for youngsters of Mustapha's ilk could be something to keep an eye on for Pompey moving forward.

John Mousinho and Portsmouth may continue using the loan market

Heading into this season, Pompey's small and more modest budget was spoken about regularly.

However, with the club's safety in the division being confirmed, and Fratton Park remaining a Championship ground, Mousinho is expected to have an increased budget to play with over the summer months.

With this in mind, the loan market is looking to be a crucial avenue for Pompey, who simply cannot match the spending power that the likes of Birmingham City and Wrexham bring with them from League One.

Portsmouth are looking to turn to the Premier League loan market as a strategic tool for squad development. Last summer, the club had been linked with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before his move to Sheffield United, and Mustapha is the latest Premier League talent on their radar.

The appeal is mutual. While Pompey may not be able to compete financially with other suitors, they can offer a platform to perform regularly in the Championship, a crucial step for young players looking to bridge the gap between youth and senior football.