Revealed: Portsmouth step up pursuit of Ched Evans
Match

Revealed: Portsmouth step up pursuit of Ched Evans

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on: 

EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Portsmouth are keen to offer a two-year deal to Sheffield United striker Ched Evans despite a backlash among a section of fans to the potential transfer, Football Insider can reveal.

Football Insider revealed yesterday that Pompey's manager Kenny Jackett has targeted the 30-year-old forward as the newly-promoted Blades prepare to listen to offers to sell him permanently this summer.

This led to some negative comments among supporters on social media given the history of Evans, who was acquitted of rape at a retrial that overturned his original conviction.

But a Portsmouth source has told Football Insider the club still want Evans and are willing to hand him a two-year contract to prise him from Bramall Lane, where he is out of contract in 12 months.

Manager Jackett is a big admirer of Evans' predatory qualities in front of goal and believes he can add real cutting edge to the League One club as they target automatic promotion next season.

The Wales international, capped 13 times by the country, scored 18 goals from 41 matches while on loan at fellow third-tier outfit Fleetwood Town last season.

Evans is eager to leave Sheffield United and end his second spell at the club, as he knows is well down the forward pecking order following their promotion to the Premier League.

Boss Chris Wilder is willing to let Evans go, although Portsmouth face competition for his services from rival outfit Oxford United.

There have been denials in some quarters about Pompey's interest in Evans, but Football Insider, who broke the news earlier this week that Brighton had agreed a fee for defender Matt Clarke, has been told a deal is certainly on the cards.

In other Portsmouth news, it can be REVEALED that the club have made a formal move to land a Stoke City player.

Sheffield United
Portsmouth
www.footballinsider247.com