I'm also not too sure about "Shane Duffy being picked off by a bigger club".
Perhaps Shane Duffy moving on as his style of play doesn't fit with Graham Potter's passing philosophy would be more accurate.
I think Burn is also forgotten CB. Has he played there for us
it tickles me no end that we nicked Pompey's best player by far just for a laugh only to farm him immediately out to a mid table Championship side.
It tickles me no end that we can rightfully refer to Wayne Rooney's Derby County as a mid table Championship side.
It could be (in regards to our defence)......
Out: Duffy & Schelotto
In: White & Clarke
Potter loves centre backs & central midfielders on the flanks. White looks like he can play at least three positions effectively so he could be a utility player where as Clarke would be a replacement for Duffy.
And now the FL are talking about introducing a significant wage cap for lower league sides, which- in Pompey's case- would mean them having to reduce their existing wage bill by a fair bit, never mind making loads of Disney-funded new signings. Marvellous stuff. Keep them down there forever!
Sell him back to Pompey for 5 million.....result.Potter initially scouted him to sign him for Swansea, but I guess what he saw convinced him that he could turn into a good PL defender. Now when Ben White turned out to be great in the Championship, it's possible the Clarke signing is turning out a bit redundant though I'm sure Potter will have a look at him in the pre-season.
As he was reportedly signed for a little less than £4m he will fairy likely be a good piece of business even if he would get sold without doing a single game for the club.
Clarke has looked solid when I've seen him since the lockdown. He's a brave trier with some quality. Whether he is PL standard I wouldn't like to say, yet.
Given our abundance of riches at CB, if we keep all we have plus White coming in (as an upgrade on Balogun), another year at Derby (for a suitable loan fee) makes sense.
I've seen a fair bit of Ostigard at St Pauli and whilst he has some quality, I'd say he's further off PL standard than Clarke. Champ loan for him too would make sense.
Sounds like Duffy could have yet more competition next season. We really are stacked at the back but lacking depth up top aren't we (resisted a joke about Belle Delphine or Mrs HS here 2020 for you ).