According to the reports from Football Scotland, Portsmouth have sealed a year-long loan deal for Rangers midfielder Ross McCrorie after beating off late interest from Sunderland for the player. It is unclear if there is an option to buy in this loan deal although yesterday’s Daily Record reported that the Pompey requested an option to make the loan permanent after the season ends.
Portsmouth might have won the Checkatrade Trophy last season, but they faltered against Sunderland in the playoff semifinals. There is no doubt that Jackett will look to mount up a better challenge next season and for that, he needs to add depth to his squad. The Pompey were in a strong position to move up to the Championship until the midway point of the season, but a lot of on-loan departures made their job tough from there onwards.
Kenny Jackett is said to be an admirer of McCrorie, and he was extremely keen to land the Scotsman this summer. The midfielder made 30 appearances for Rangers last season in all competitions, and he made some eye-catching displays, playing as a defensive midfielder.
Why Rangers might be sending him away and is Jackett likely to sign him permanently?
However, with Gerrard permanently securing a deal for Steven Davis this summer and also getting the signing of Joe Aribo done has probably what pushed McCrorie down the pecking order. The manager knew that the 21-year-old would find it hard to get regular game time and Portsmouth are going to benefit from that as they are close to landing this talented midfielder.
It remains to be seen whether Rangers had agreed on an option to sell the player permanently next year. We think that Gerrard will keep McCrorie in his plans as he was impressive last season for the Gers.
What will McCrorie bring at Fratton Park?
If we are given one word to describe what would the Scotsman bring, then we will say it’s energy. The defensive midfielder was the preferred starter for Gerrard in the Old Firm derby in the defensive midfield position last season, and that showed how much the manager trusted the youngster.
McCrorie is known for his tenacity and ability to nick out 50-50 balls from the opposition. He will be an ideal midfield disruptor who will provide endless running throughout the game. The Scotland u-21 international can also link up play well with his short passing. He will be an ideal shield for the Pompey back four, and Portsmouth fans can expect some crunching tackles and smart interceptions from the youngster. All in all, excellent signing for Portsmouth here.
