Another week in the January transfer window passes and Pompey are still yet to make any purchases, but more importantly, we are still yet to lose any players.
The Rumour Mill has all the latest on the transfer dealings and rumours at Fratton Park and all the latest on yet another takover saga.
Cala linked with consortium takeover bid
Fans are keeping there fingers cross that finally a good, clean and rich owner can come in to the club and help steer the ship in the right direction following a number of skint, imaginary and dodgy owners passing the club round for the last three years.
The latest man to be linked to the takeover saga, which is expected to be completed within the next week or two (according to Andrew Andronikou), is J.Joseph Cala. Although little is known about Cala, he has been described as an entrepreneur based in Italy and USA, and runs a firm interested in building undersea casinos and cruise ships. However, after doing a bit of quick research on the internet it looks as if Cala has been involved in a bit of dodgy business and doesn’t look like the kind of man Portsmouth Football Club need funding their existence.
Cala has reportedly arranged large financial meetings but never turned up and has a history of pulling in and out of sales with regards to an Italian football club. The Italian, although now a US citizen, is a billionaire as well as head of Cala Corporation.
Cala is rumoured to be part of a consortium that may or may not be funded by Abu Dhabi investors, however was linked to Salernitana last season. This contradicts what Andronikou said last week about the potential investor having never been involved in football ownership, which leads us to believe there is more than one party involved.
Either way, the done deal is expected to happen with this mystery man over the next week or two and only time will tell if Cala is the man behind the bid. He may not be an Arab with no money, the dodgy son of Arcadi Gaydamak, another imaginary billionaire or some dodgy bankrupt Russians, but don’t expect Cala to be Pompey’s angel saviour – more like a James Bond villain!
What’s going on with Dave Kitson?
The former Reading striker has been linked with a number of Championship clubs despite being favoured by new manager Michael Appleton. Pompey’s manager has been a great admirer of Kitson, having started all nine games since his arrival, however the ginger striker has been linked with moves to both Bristol City and south-coast rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kitson, although not entirely admired by the Fratton faithful, has proved to be a valuable asset since joining from Stoke City last summer. Having improved with strike partner Marko Futacs alongside him, Kitson has started to change the fans view of him over the passing weeks, and although he may not have as many goals in him any more, he is a key part of Pompey’s squad.
He was recently interviewed in The News claiming how happy he is at Portsmouth and even suggested he is looking at maybe extending his contract. Despite falling out with previous manager Steve Cotterill, Kitson is a big believer in Appleton and everything he has brought to the club, and whilst many would take the money for the Englishman, the Blues aren’t likely to cash-in on the striker.
Yet another West Brom striker linked with Fratton arrival
West Bromwich Albion striker, Chris Wood, has been linked with a move to Pompey to link-up with former Baggies coach Appleton. Wood, 20, was on-loan at Championship rivals Birmingham City until recently, but the two Midlands clubs have yet to agree an extension on Wood’s loan.
To be honest, unless the takeover goes through quicker than we expect, I can’t imagine this deal, along with any others, will go through in time even if there is truth behind it.
At the moment we’re being linked with every West Brom striker available – Simon Cox, Marc-Antoine Fortune, Roman Bednar and now Chris Wood. If I was to make the choice, I’d take Cox to Fratton Park as he is clearly punching above his weight in the Premier League but showed great skill and goalscoring ability at previous club Swindon. Cox recently scored a hat-trick against Cardiff in the FA Cup third round.
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