Pompey rivals are closing in on a Celtic player as Derby faces a new challenge from West Ham.

Transfer activity is beginning to gather pace across the Championship as clubs prepare for the opening of the summer window, with Portsmouth’s rivals already making significant moves in the market.

At Fratton Park, manager John Mousinho is expected to oversee plenty of changes in the coming months as he shapes his squad for another demanding Championship campaign. New arrivals and departures are anticipated as Pompey look to strengthen ahead of the new season and build on their return to the second tier.

Several names have already been linked with a switch to Portsmouth. Among those reportedly on the club’s shortlist are defender Luke Graham and forward Aribim Pepple. Elsewhere, reports have suggested that Ibrahim Buhari of IF Elfsborg and Calum Adamson from Rangers FC are also being monitored as potential additions.

While supporters are understandably focused on who could arrive at PO4, there are also important decisions to be made regarding current squad members. Portsmouth remain keen to retain experienced defender Connor Ogilvie and full-back Zak Swanson, with both players having been offered new contracts. Meanwhile, the impressive performances of young talents Adrian Segecic and Terry Devlin during breakthrough campaigns have reportedly attracted attention from elsewhere, raising questions about their long-term futures.

Across the Championship, transfer speculation continues to intensify as clubs seek to gain an early advantage before the start of the new season. One of the latest developments involves Swansea City, who appear to be closing in on a deal for a defender with extensive experience in Scottish football.

Following a promising first season under head coach Vitor Matos, Swansea are moving quickly to strengthen their squad. The Portuguese coach was appointed in November and successfully guided the Welsh club away from early relegation concerns, ultimately securing an 11th-place finish in the Championship.

Having now had time to assess his squad and plan for the future, Matos is reportedly eager to make additions that fit his vision. As a result, Swansea are believed to be on the verge of completing their first signing of the summer transfer window.

According to reports from the Scottish media, Stephen Welsh is expected to join Swansea in the coming days. The central defender, who has spent his entire professional career with Celtic FC, is said to be finalising a long-term agreement with the Championship side.

The move would represent a fresh challenge for Welsh after several years at Celtic Park. Reports suggest the 26-year-old rejected alternative opportunities from other Championship clubs as well as teams in Major League Soccer before deciding that Swansea was the right destination for the next stage of his career.

Rather than waiting for his current contract to expire, Welsh is expected to leave Celtic through a mutual agreement that will bring his existing deal to an early conclusion. That arrangement would allow him to complete a free transfer to Swansea and begin pre-season preparations with his new club.

Welsh emerged from Celtic’s youth system and gradually established himself as a dependable member of the first-team squad. Since making his senior debut in 2020, he has accumulated 70 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish champions, gaining valuable experience in domestic and European football.

Although opportunities at Celtic became more limited in recent seasons, Welsh remained highly regarded for his professionalism and defensive qualities. Last season, he spent time on loan at Motherwell FC, where he enjoyed regular football and further enhanced his reputation.

During that loan spell, Welsh featured 31 times across all competitions, playing an important role in Motherwell’s campaign. His performances demonstrated both consistency and maturity, qualities that Swansea appear eager to add to their defensive options ahead of the new season.

For Swansea supporters, the signing could represent a significant boost as Matos looks to continue the progress made during his first year in charge. The club’s recruitment strategy appears focused on securing players with experience, reliability and room for further development, and Welsh fits that profile well.

Portsmouth fans will also take note of Swansea’s business given the competitive nature of the Championship. The Swans proved to be difficult opponents for Pompey during the previous campaign, completing a league double over Mousinho’s side.

One of those victories came in early December when Swansea recorded a narrow 1-0 success. That result was particularly notable because it arrived during Matos’ fourth match as head coach, providing an early indication of the impact he would go on to make at the club.

With the transfer window about to open, Swansea’s pursuit of Welsh highlights the ambition being shown by Portsmouth’s Championship rivals. As clubs across the division continue to strengthen, competition is expected to be fierce, making every signing and contract decision increasingly important in the months ahead.