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Championship rumours as Pompey wait for official confirmation of their stay in second tier

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Pompey’s victory against Leicester on Saturday took them seven points clear of the relegation zone with just three games of the season reamining.

Their Championship status is still not 100-percent guaranteed, but you’ll find few people who believe the Blues will be back in League One next season after a run of three straight wins took them clear of immediate danger.

That gurantee could come as early as Tuesday night if third-from-bottom Oxford are beaten at home by play-off chasing Wrexham at the Kassam Stadium.

It could also signal the initial start of Pompey’s summer recruitment drive, with the green light finally given for Rich Hughes & Co to pursue those players earmarked for a third season at Championship level.

The transfer rumours have already started, after Fabrizio Romano linked the Blues with a move for winger Jayden Braaf.

The News, however, have since learned that John Mousinho has no interest in the former Manchester City youngster.

Still, it won’t be the last time Pompey are credited with an interest in a player ahead of a busy four months of recruitment.

And the rumour mill will no doubt be in full flow for the rest of the Championship as they too plot ways to improve their lot ahead of a new season.

Of course, the summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until Monday, June 15.

In the meantime, though, here’s some of the latest Championship rumours already doing the rounds with two weeks of the current campaign still to be played.

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Birmingham weighing up managerial move for Frank

Birmingham City are reportedly eyeing a big-name replacement if they decide to part company with head coach Chris Davies at the end of the season.

The future of the former Spurs assistant manager has been the subject of constant speculation as the Blues’ bid for back-to-back promotions began to peter out.

The St Andrew’s outfit currently sit 14th in the Championship table, 12 points off the play-off places and with just two wins from their past 10 games.

That has ramped up talk that Birmingham could look to end their two-year association with their 2024-25 promotion-winning boss following their final game of the season at Pompey on May 2.

And according to Football League World, the powers that be at Brum will target an ambitious move for out-of-work Thomas Frank to help them achieve their ambitions of the return to the Premier League.

Frank has been out of work after being sacked by relegation-threatened Tottenham in February.

He won just 13 of his 39 matches in charge of Spurs and was duly relieved of his duties just eight months into his three-year deal.

His reputation remains high, though, after seven noteworthy seasons at Brentford.

And he’ll prove an almighty coup of Birmingham are able to lure him to St Andrew’s in the summer, if they decide to part company with Davies.

Sheffield United forced to cash in on prized assets

Sheffield United could be forced to sell two of their prized assets in the summer following their failure to compete for promotion back to the Premier League this term.

The Blades, who were in relegation trouble for a large part of the season, currently sit 12th in the table and with no chance of making the play-offs.

And they’ll likely pay the price for a forgettable season at Bramall Lane by being made to cash in on midfield duo Gustavo Hamer and Sydie Peck.

That’s according to Alan Nixon, who claims United will have to tighten their belts ahead of next season and try to bring extra funds in by moving some of their star players on.

Hamer is certainly someone who will attract a lot of attention, having previously been linked with a move to Leeds, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Fuham.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Peck, who opened the scoring in Sheffield United’s 3-0 win over Pompey in November, is considered one of the hottest young talents outside of the Premier League.

The former Arsenal youth team player has been previously been linked with Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Brentford.

The South Korean international has totalled just 29 minutes of league football since leaving Fratton Park

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John Mousinho has every sympathy for Spurs over their ill-fated decision to send Minhyeok Yang to Coventry - despite the winger not making the Sky Blues’ last 12 squads.

Frustratingly, the Premier League club cancelled the winger’s Fratton Park loan spell in January, preferring to instead send him out to Frank Lampard’s table-toppers.

He has subsequently totalled just 29 minutes of Championship football, with his three league outings all coming off the bench during their magnificent charge to the Premier League.

Indeed, Minhyeok hasn’t featured since February 7, when he was an 89th-minute substitute in a goalless draw with 10-man Oxford United - and is unlikely to face Pompey on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

But Mousinho has sympathy with Spurs and the 20-year-old South Korea international.

‘It happens sometimes’

He told The News: ‘It was obviously a decision where Tottenham wanted to get Minhyeok into the best side in the league - and I had no issue with that.

‘They have some very, very good wingers at Coventry. If you look at those who have played for the majority of the season, you’ve got Ephron Mason-Clark and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Behind them are Brandon Thomas-Asante and Romain Esse, they signed Jahnoah Markelo in January and Jack Rudoni has played out there a little.

‘Then they signed Minhyeok. It’s a tough, tough ask to go into a side which is top of the league.

‘He did very, very well here, he’s a good player and will have a good career. He got three goals, a couple of assists, he scored in that really memorable win against Charlton.

‘For a young lad, we thought he was having a very good loan in terms of that exposure and the ups and downs of what it’s like in the Championship, especially for a struggling side. So I was really pleased with his contribution.

‘Him leaving was a combination of having the opportunity to go to Coventry, while towards the back of Minhyeok’s loan here, he hadn’t played a huge amount either. Against Bristol City on New Year’s Day, he was an unused substitute, so you can understand Spurs wanting to get their players a bit more playing time.

‘He hasn’t played much for Coventry, but they would have made that decision without thinking that was going to be the case, it happens sometimes.

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‘We have brought in loan players who we thought were going to play a lot of minutes and it didn’t pan out for whatever reason. Kaide Gordon is a good example of that last year.

‘You make the decisions as best as you can at the time and Tottenham would have done that. Maybe it has still been fantastic exposure because Minhyeok has been part of a side which is probably going to win the Championship.’

As a consequence of Minhyeok’s January departure, the Blues faced a winger shortage ahead of their trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

Mousinho lost Harvey Blair (hip flexor) and Franco Umeh (hamstring) during the FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, joining Josh Murphy and Florian Bianchini in the treatment room.

Urgently needing to bolster their wing options, Pompey recruited Milli Alli from Luton on loan for the remainder of the season, having fallen out of favour at the League One club.

And, by the end of the window, Keshi Anderson and Gustavo Caballero had also arrived at Fratton Park.

Mousinho added: ‘We had that miniature crisis in January where, at one point, we just didn’t have any wingers at all.

‘Post-Arsenal, we had Minhyeok recalled, Franco and Harvey injured, Murphy injured, Flo injured, we didn’t have any other wingers available.

‘Then we signed Milli in the build up to Sheffield Wednesday, he was the only one we had on the pitch at the time. I know Segs has played there - and he has done very well there - but Segs isn’t a winger.

‘So we had a difficult spot in January, we had to think fast. We recruited Milli and Keshi, who have had a big impact.

‘Then, at the back end of the window, when we didn’t necessarily have that strength in depth because of Murphy's injury, we decided to take Gus as well.’

Minhyeok Yang netted three goals and provided two assists in 16 outings for Pompey during the first half of the season.

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It was a move that was expected to improve his game time, but Minhyeok Yang’s stint with Coventry City is quickly turning into a nightmare.

The Tottenham Hotspur loanee was the first exit at Fratton Park during the January window, as the Premier League strugglers pulled the plug on his season-long stint on the south coast.

Following his surprise loan recall early in the month, it was confirmed the winger would instead see out the campaign with the Championship high-flyers as Frank Lampard looked to strengthen his squad for their title challenge.

But Minhyeok’s season, which started on a relatively positive note with Pompey, is quickly unravelling as the season heads towards its climax.

Despite starting on debut against Stoke City in the FA Cup just days after his move, the South Korean youth international’s game time has come at a premium.

Coventry nightmare continues for ex-Pompey loanee

The young forward has been left out of the Sky Blues’ previous seven Championship matchday squads as he plummets down the pecking order in Lampard’s attack.

Brandon Thomas-Asante, Romain Esse, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Mason Ephron-Clarke and January Pompey target Jahnoah Markelo have all made sizeable impressions on the wing, with Minhyeok currently out of the picture.

In fact, the one-time Pompey loanee’s last outing came more than a month ago, in a one-minute cameo during Coventry’s goalless draw with Oxford United at the start of February.

That represents just one of his three appearances with Lampard’s men, of which all have come from the bench - and has totalled just 29 minutes of league action.

With a swath of attacking talent currently ahead of Minhyeok in Lampard’s armoury, the Coventry boss recently explained he has had to make tough decisions to ensure his side have the best chance of reaching the Premier League this term.

Speaking to Coventry Live at the end of February, the ex-Chelsea man said: ‘We’re competing to try and do well this season. I have to make decisions with what I see. And that’s not to disrespect Mini. If I feel like it’s Mini’s time to come in, he’ll come in, absolutely. That goes with all the players.

‘I don’t have a preference of loan or players that are ours, as such, because at the minute we want to win. I can’t add those kind of emotions into it.

‘I have to try to pick the best 11 and the best bench, and at the moment we don’t have any injuries, other than Brau who’s coming back to train this week.

‘So we had some injuries in the early part of the season when we did have a thinner squad and now we have a fuller squad.

‘That’s just what it is and we know and the players know what’s in front of us for the next two and a half to three months. So we have to go.’

Minhyeok Yang’s time at Pompey

Minhyeok arrived on a season-long loan from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the eve of the opening day against Oxford United, which saw him swiftly named in the match-day squad just days into his Fratton career.

Despite a slow start to life on the south coast, the winger grew in confidence and was a regular fixture in John Mousinho’s frontline amid injuries to Josh Murphy, Harvey Blair, Callum Lang, Franco Umeh and Florian Bianchini.

The Spurs talent amassed 16 outings during his short stay on the south coast, netting three goals and providing two assists.

His final kick for the Blues saw him grab a last-minute winner against Charlton Athletic in December, just days before the north London outfit triggered his recall option.

Minhyoek Yang scored three goals in 16 appearances for Pompey during his loan stint from Tottenham Hotspur.

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Minhyeok Yang’s loan spell with Coventry City is yet to hit the heights many expected.

The South Korean international made the surprise move to the CBS Arena in January, having had his season-long loan at Portsmouth prematurely ended by Tottenham Hotspur.

The winger amassed 16 appearances during the first half of the campaign at Fratton Park, where he netted three goals and registered one assist.

His final kick for the Blues saw him grab a last-minute winner against Charlton Athletic in December, just days before Spurs triggered his recall option.

Minhyeok would go on to join promotion hopefuls Coventry early in the transfer window on a temporary basis for the remainder of the campaign.

But the winger’s stint in the West Midlands hasn’t gone to plan as yet, having registered just three substitute appearances in the Championship to date.

Despite starting the Sky Blues’ FA Cup defeat to Stoke City, the Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate has since gone on to total just 31 minutes of league action as their promotion bid stalls.

That has been largely due to the impressive form of Ephron Mason-Clarke on the left-wing, with the 26-year-old cementing his spot in Frank Lampard’s attack.

The Coventry boss also has the likes of Brandon Thomas-Asante, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and January Pompey target Jahnoah Markelo who have made sizeable impressions on the wing.

Indeed, Lampard’s assistant, Joe Edwards, explained the reasons behind the ex-Blues loanee’s lack of game time at the CBS Arena was due to tough competition out wide.

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Why ex-Pompey man isn’t playing at Coventry

He told Coventry Live at the end of January: ‘Mini’s come in and looked good in training, showed some really nice bits in the game against Stoke. I think one of the difficult things for him is he’s come in to play predominantly on the left for us and Ephron is in outstanding form and physically in as good a condition as probably I’ve seen him since we’ve been here.

‘Yeah, that’s the thing and game by game we’re now in a position at the moment where we’re a lot happier with our bench than we’ve maybe been at times in the past in terms of the different types of impact we can have. That’s no disrespect to players that have been on our bench, but it’s the different types of impact that we’re able to make.

‘But obviously that’s determined by the state of the game and the result, and the two league games that we’ve had since Mini’s come in, we’ve been in a position where in those final sort of 10 minutes it’s been us really trying to manage the game and make sure that we’re defensively on it.

‘And it’s always that balance when you’re talking about making attacking subs of a player coming on to make an offensive impact, yes, but then when you’re a wide player, like Mini is, like Ephron has been in the last two games, sometimes when you’re in the rhythm of the game and in the momentum, it’s easier to stay switched on to do your job and track your runner than it may be used to come in cold for just five minutes where it could be five minutes of chaos of the opposition, throwing long balls in the box, people gambling and making runs forward. And I think that’s kind of been our assessment so far.

‘There will be games where it looks completely different. There’ll be games where it’s on us to go and chase and get the next goal in the last 10 minutes and I’m sure things will look different then.’

Despite the departures of Minhyeok and Callum Lang in the transfer window, Pompey recruited Millenic Alli, Keshi Anderson and Gustavo Caballero before the deadline.

The Spurs winger has scored three goals in 16 appearances for the Blues

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Spurs have reportedly recalled Minhyeok Yang from his Fratton Park loan spell.

And instead the winger is to join fellow Championship side Coventry for the remainder of the season.

That’s according to respected football transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, who has today claimed the South Korea international has agreed on a loan switch to the Sky Blues.

Yang, who had previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid, has struggled to establish himself in John Mousinho’s side during a disappointing stay to date.

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Although the 19-year-old arrived in August on a season-long loan, he has started just nine times in the Championship, with one of those coming since November 1.

Yang enjoyed an impressive three-game spell in October when he netted in successive matches against Watford and Middlesbrough, followed by an assist at Leicester City.

However, it wasn’t until two-and-a-half months later before his next meaningful contribution, with that 98th-minute winner against Charlton in the final game of 2025.

He wasn’t even used off the bench in the 5-0 New Year’s Day hammering at Bristol City - with Charlton now looking like his final outing for the Blues.

Overall, the Spurs teenager made 16 appearances and scored three times, with his better performances coming on the left wing in the absence of the injured Josh Murphy.

His potential departure would free up a loan slot for Pompey, with Conor Chaplin and Florian Bianchini the other two players on season-long temporary stays.

The Spurs winger has scored three goals in 16 appearances for the Blues

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Spurs have reportedly recalled Minhyeok Yang from his Fratton Park loan spell.

And instead the winger is to join fellow Championship side Coventry for the remainder of the season.

That’s according to respected football transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, who has today claimed the South Korea international has agreed on a loan switch to the Sky Blues.

Yang, who had previously been linked with a move to Real Madrid, has struggled to establish himself in John Mousinho’s side during a disappointing stay to date.

Although the 19-year-old arrived in August on a season-long loan, he has started just nine times in the Championship, with one of those coming since November 1.

Yang enjoyed an impressive three-game spell in October when he netted in successive matches against Watford and Middlesbrough, followed by an assist at Leicester City.

However, it wasn’t until two-and-a-half months later before his next meaningful contribution, with that 98th-minute winner against Charlton in the final game of 2025.

He wasn’t even used off the bench in the 5-0 New Year’s Day hammering at Bristol City - with Charlton now looking like his final outing for the Blues.

Overall, the Spurs teenager made 16 appearances and scored three times, with his better performances coming on the left wing in the absence of the injured Josh Murphy.

His potential departure would free up a loan slot for Pompey, with Conor Chaplin and Florian Bianchini the other two players on season-long temporary stays.

The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.

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Pompey earned a 1-1 draw against Derby County on Saturday afternoon to leave them two points above the relegation zone heading into Christmas.

The festive schedule is now firmly underway, with the Blues facing QPR on Boxing Day before welcoming Charlton Athletic to Fratton Park to round off 2025.

The transfer window is now just a matter of days away, with John Mousinho expecting new arrivals - and potential departures - in a vitally important market for their season.

Pompey sit just two points clear of the bottom three, while a four-point gap has opened up to 20th-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Although Christmas is upon us, transfer gossip and speculation is ramping up as clubs begin their preparations for January.

Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ Championship rivals.

Ipswich eyeing Brennan Johnson swoop

Ipswich Town are eyeing an audacious swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson, according to reports.

The Tractor Boys are bidding for an instant return to the Premier League following their relegation last term and currently sit third in the standings going into Christmas.

Kieran McKenna’s men are looking to strengthen in the market, with the £47.5 man believed to be on their radar.

Football Insider have claimed Johnson is a top target at Portman Road next month, but face competition from Crystal Palace and Brentford for his signature.

The report suggests Spurs are weighing up whether to allow the 24-year-old to depart north London in the window after a frustrating start to the season.

The 42-cap Wales international has featured 21 times for Thomas Frank’s men, of which six have been from the start, which has also seen him net four goals to date.

Johnson, who made a £47.5 move from Nottingham Forest in 2023 has scored 27 goals and registered 18 assists in 106 outings in all competitions during his two-and-a-half-year stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ipswich have been credited with an interest in the right winger, who could now be available on loan in the January window just months after scoring the winner in Spurs’ 1-0 triumph against Spurs to claim the Europa League in May.

The Tractor Boys make the trip to Fratton Park on January 4 to face Pompey to bring an end to the festive period.

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Championship sides chasing Leeds star

A host of Championship clubs are potentially planning a January swoop for Leeds United talent Harry Gray.

Transfer guru Alan Nixon has claimed a host of Championship clubs, including Derby County and Charlton Athletic, have been put on red alert over a potential loan in the second-half of the season.

The midfielder, who is the brother of Archie Gray, came through the ranks at Elland Road and has made just one-first team outing for the Whites.

Gray is reportedly of interest to Manchester City, with the report claiming Manchester City are mulling over a £40m swoop for the England youth international.

Derby are believed to be one of the clubs who are keen on the wonderkid, with the article emerging just days after their 1-1 draw against Mousinho’s men at Pride Park on Saturday.

The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals.

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Pompey earned a 1-1 draw against Derby County on Saturday afternoon to leave them two points above the relegation zone heading into Christmas.

The festive schedule is now firmly underway, with the Blues facing QPR on Boxing Day before welcoming Charlton Athletic to Fratton Park to round off 2025.

The transfer window is now just a matter of days away, with John Mousinho expecting new arrivals - and potential departures - in a vitally important market for their season.

Pompey sit just two points clear of the bottom three, while a four-point gap has opened up to 20th-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Although Christmas is upon us, transfer gossip and speculation is ramping up as clubs begin their preparations for January.

Here are the latest headlines involving the Blues’ Championship rivals.

Ipswich eyeing Brennan Johnson swoop

Ipswich Town are eyeing an audacious swoop for Tottenham Hotspur winger Brennan Johnson, according to reports.

The Tractor Boys are bidding for an instant return to the Premier League following their relegation last term and currently sit third in the standings going into Christmas.

Kieran McKenna’s men are looking to strengthen in the market, with the £47.5 man believed to be on their radar.

Football Insider have claimed Johnson is a top target at Portman Road next month, but face competition from Crystal Palace and Brentford for his signature.

The report suggests Spurs are weighing up whether to allow the 24-year-old to depart north London in the window after a frustrating start to the season.

The 42-cap Wales international has featured 21 times for Thomas Frank’s men, of which six have been from the start, which has also seen him net four goals to date.

Johnson, who made a £47.5 move from Nottingham Forest in 2023 has scored 27 goals and registered 18 assists in 106 outings in all competitions during his two-and-a-half-year stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Ipswich have been credited with an interest in the right winger, who could now be available on loan in the January window just months after scoring the winner in Spurs’ 1-0 triumph against Spurs to claim the Europa League in May.

The Tractor Boys make the trip to Fratton Park on January 4 to face Pompey to bring an end to the festive period.

Play Up Pompey! Stay in the know with match-day action, exclusive analysis and more with our free football email

Championship sides chasing Leeds star

A host of Championship clubs are potentially planning a January swoop for Leeds United talent Harry Gray.

Transfer guru Alan Nixon has claimed a host of Championship clubs, including Derby County and Charlton Athletic, have been put on red alert over a potential loan in the second-half of the season.

The midfielder, who is the brother of Archie Gray, came through the ranks at Elland Road and has made just one-first team outing for the Whites.

Gray is reportedly of interest to Manchester City, with the report claiming Manchester City are mulling over a £40m swoop for the England youth international.

Derby are believed to be one of the clubs who are keen on the wonderkid, with the article emerging just days after their 1-1 draw against Mousinho’s men at Pride Park on Saturday.

The South Korean international has scored twice in 14 appearances for the Blues

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John Mousinho insists Pompey have ‘heard nothing’ from either Spurs or Real Madrid over the potential sale of Minhyeok Yang.

And while the Blues boss has confirmed the Premier League club hold a recall option next month, he believes the winger will remain at Fratton Park for the rest of the season.

Spanish news outlet Defensa Central this week reported Real Madrid are preparing to table a 7m Euro bid with Spurs to capture the South Korean international.

That has since been rubbished by Football Asian, who insist there is no interest from the Spanish giants - although Yang could still go on loan elsewhere in January’s transfer window.

Yang ‘no longer the right fit’ for Portsmouth

The website claims Bundesliga and Ligue 1 clubs are in the hunt to take the 19-year-old next month, with Yang ‘no longer the right fit’ for Pompey.

Speaking this afternoon ahead of Pompey’s trip to Derby, however, Mousinho is adamant the attacker will be staying on the south coast for the duration of his agreed loan.

The Blues head coach told The News: ‘I’ve heard the story (about Real Madrid), but there’s nothing I have heard from Tottenham or Real Madrid.

‘I think Minhyeok will be here for the rest of the season. Spurs have a recall, as most of these loan contracts. Spurs have a recall if they want to recall him.

‘I think he’s been a really bright spark in a lot of the performances we’ve had, particularly in the early part of the season.

‘At times you have probably seen what you can sometimes expect from young players, but, as a 19-year-old coming into a struggling side, he has done very well. He will be staying until the end of the season.’

Mixed time at Fratton Park

Yang has experienced a mixed start to his Pompey career following his August arrival from the Premier League on a season-long loan.

Representing his second Championship loan spell since joining Spurs in January, other than an impressive three-week period in October, the winger has largely struggled to make a Fratton impact.

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Of late, he has been switched to the right wing to accommodate fit-again Josh Murphy on the left, including starting the last two matches against Swansea and Blackburn.

However, it was during a seven-match run on the left wing from the end of September when he produced his best form, including scoring in successive games against Watford and Middlesbrough.

Last weekend, Yang was taken off at half-time with the Blues trailing 1-0 to Blackburn. Instead Callum Lang moved to the right wing from a centre-forward role and proceeded to net a 62nd-minute leveller.

‘It’s about trying to find the best place for him to fit into the team.’

Overall, the former Gangwon player has made 14 appearances and scored twice for Pompey, although he has started just two of their last seven games.

When asked about Yang’s recent form, Mousinho added: ‘That’s partly due to the way we play, with Murphy being back and playing on the left.

‘We have tried Minhyeok on the right over the past couple of games. It’s just about trying to find the best place for him to fit into the team.’

Minhyeok Yang has scored two goals and registered one assist during his loan stay at Pompey.

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Real Madrid have been credited with an interest in Pompey loanee Minhyeok Yang.

It’s been a bright start to the campaign on the south coast for the 19-year-old, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in August on a season-long deal.

The winger has amassed 14 outings for the Blues in all competitions to date, which has reaped two goals and one assist.

Real Madrid interested in Pompey loanee Minhyeok Yang

Indeed, his displays at Fratton Park haven’t gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid reportedly admirers of Minhyeok.

Spanish news outlet Defensa Central have claimed the Pompey loanee is being ‘closely watched’ by Los Blancos due to his ‘immense potential’.

The report suggests Xabi Alonso’s men are ready to make a 7m euro (£6.1m) offer to Spurs for the South Korean youth international - although the article is unclear if they will make a move in January.

Minhyeok only arrived in England in January after an outstanding maiden campaign in senior football for Gangwon FC. The forward netted 12 goals and provided six assists during his 38 appearances during the 2024 K League campaign.

After penning a six-year deal in north London at the start of 2025, the young talent spent the second half of last term on loan at QPR, where he flourished in the Championship.

The winger is yet to make a first-team outing for Thomas Frank’s side, but was a prominent fixture on the club’s pre-season program in the summer.

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John Mousinho on Minhyeok Yang’s Pompey stay

The 19-year-old returned to English football’s second division in August, where he sealed a season-long loan switch to Fratton Park.

Minhyeok has appeared 14 times for the Blues in the opening four months of the campaign, which has seen him score on two occasions as well as registering one assist.

His performances have been noticed by Mousinho, who admitted the tricky winger has so far ‘exceeded expectations’ on the south coast.

The Blues boss told The News at the start of December: ‘I think so (his loan period has gone as expected). I think he probably has exceeded expectations, with the way he came in and did as well as he did - especially in Josh Murphy's absence.

‘We’ve still got very high hopes for Minhyeok, and we’re really pleased with where he’s at.

‘I think he can definitely influence games off the bench, but he’s done both. He started games and also influenced things off the bench. At times, he’s started and looked very bright for us.’