Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley is not surprised to see Jay Mingi attract Championship interest with West Brom one of the clubs taking a closer look at the midfielder, speaking to The News.
The EFL is chock-full of exciting young talent making a name for themselves in the lower leagues after failing to make the grade at West Ham United.
Sorba Thomas helped fire Huddersfield Town into the play-offs last term. Anthony Scully, meanwhile, earned himself a move to Wigan Athletic after scoring 32 times in two seasons at Lincoln City.
And the chances are that, if Portsmouth miss out on promotion yet again in 2023, Mingi won’t be sticking around at Fratton Park.
According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Thomas’ Huddersfield are eyeing up a 22-year-old who joined Pompey back in 2021 following a brief spell at League One rivals Charlton Athletic.
During Mingi’s first season as a first-team regular, the versatile enforcer has made 25 appearances across all competitions. And Cowley is determined to see the positives in rising interest from higher up the Football League pyramid.
West Brom among Championship clubs targeting Portsmouth’s Jay Mingi
“Our focus is just on the performance. Jay is a young player. I think he’s grown by the day,” the former Huddersfield boss explains.
“He’s been great to watch. He deserves absolutely all the credit. And when a young player does well, like Jay has, then naturally there will be interest.
“That never scares us. I’m worried if we have players that don’t have any interest! For us it’s very much a back-handed compliment.”
Arguably most effective in a deep-lying midfield role, Mingi looks potentially tailor-made for Carlos Corberan’s well-drilled approach. The 22-year-old would provide competition for Okay Yokuslu, and a more youthful, energetic alternative to the ageing Jake Livermore.
“Jay is talented and can be whatever he wants to be,” Cowley said back in May. “He has some attributes such as pace, power, the ability to cover the ground and put fires out.
“He’s very good in the defensive transition. And we are working hard on his technical ability off both feet; passing skills, his tactical understanding of how to receive the ball, and how to find his own space.”
West Brom are also reportedly keeping tabs on Blackpool striker Jerry Yates and Hibernian’s Scotland international centre-half Ryan Porteous.
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