Exclusive: Portsmouth table bid to sign Mark Kosznovsky in race vs Swansea
Portsmouth have made a bid for Hungarian midfielder Márk Kosznovszky as they look to best Championship rivals Swansea to his signature, sources have told Football Insider.
The 23-year-old, who plays for MTK Budapest, has caught the eyes of clubs across Europe after impressing for club and country in the last 12 months.
Portsmouth have made a bid of €600,000 (£517,860) for Kosznovszky, but MTK are holding out for a bigger fee for the player.
The Hungary Under-21 international scored three goals and provided five assists in 30 games last season.
Portsmouth looking to bolster John Mousinho’s midfield
Football Insider revealed that Portsmouth were one of several clubs interested in Reading starlet Charlie Savage.
And whilst that deal remains viable, Pompey are showing their clear intent to reinforce John Mousinho’s midfield options with their bid for Kosznovszky.
The Hungarian is capable of playing as a six, eight, or 10, and provides an attacking threat, whilst his average tackles per game of 1.9 [Sofascore] show his ability to offer defensive stability in the middle of the park.
However, one area Kosznovszky may have to improve in is the quality of his tackling, having picked up seven yellow cards for his side last season.
Freddie Potts departure highlights need for new midfielder
Freddie Potts was one of Mousinho’s best-performing players last season, but following his return to West Ham, Portsmouth have a gap that needs filling in the heart of their midfield.
The young Hammer has signed a new deal with his boyhood club, extending his contract to 2029.
Portsmouth sporting director Rich Hughes revealed in an interview with The Mirror in May that Portsmouth were keen to bring Potts back to Fratton Park for another loan spell.
He said: “If there was a way of doing it we would love to, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fred in the Premier League next year.”
Andre Dozzell and Tom Lowery are currently the only out-and-out central midfielders on Portsmouth’s books, and with Potts’ future currently unknown, securing a deal for Kosznovszky may become even more of a priority, especially when considering the interest from Swansea.