Sydney FC and Socceroos defender Hayden Matthews poised to join Portsmouth
Another talented young Australian player is set to join English Championship club Portsmouth.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney FC is on the verge of completing the sale of Socceroos defender Hayden Matthews to English Championship club Portsmouth for a fee reportedly worth $2.5m.
Matthews, 20, remains in selection contention for Sydney’s battle with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Friday night, but should the transfer be finalised in the next few days, he might have already played his final game for the Sky Blues.
UK outlets have reported that Portsmouth bumped up its offer for Matthews to £1.27m ($A2.5m) after having two previous bids knocked back by Sydney.
A Sky Blues spokesman on Tuesday said negotiations were ongoing between the clubs and Matthews’ representatives.
Should, as expected, the deal be completed, Matthews will be the second player from the A-League that Portsmouth will have signed in the current transfer window, the other being striker Thomas Waddingham, who was sold by Brisbane Roar for almost $395,000.
Waddingham, 19, is awaiting his international clearance, which may arrive ahead of Portsmouth’s home clash against Stoke City on Thursday morning (AEDT).
Portsmouth’s squad also includes injured Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi as well as former Central Coast Mariners left-back Jacob Farrell.
Socceroos winger Sam Silvera had also been at Portsmouth, on loan from Middlesbrough, until last week when he moved – again on loan – to League One (third tier) club Blackpool.
In other transfer news, teenage winger Nathan Amanatidis has joined A-League cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar from Sydney FC.
Amanatidis, who turns 19 on Thursday, is hoping for more game time at the Roar, having made just two A-League appearances – both off the bench – for the Sky Blues this season.
Elsewhere, in-form Western United striker Noah Botic, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has attracted interest from clubs in England and the Netherlands as well as other A-League outfits.
Meanwhile, Central Coast Mariners have signed 19-year-old attacker Abdul Faisal, who on Monday parted ways with Perth Glory by mutual consent.
Having joined the Glory in July from Macarthur FC’s academy system, Faisal scored three goals in 13 appearances in all competitions for Perth before requesting to return home to NSW.
“I am really excited to be here on the Coast,” Faisal said on Tuesday.
“The way that this club develops young players is a huge appeal. I’ve seen many others come to the Mariners who have gone on to succeed and I want to be just like that.
“I want to have an immediate impact here and make the fans happy. My aim is to bring goals, assists and creativity to this team.”
Mariners coach Mark Jackson said: “We are delighted to have Abdul join us here on the Coast. He is a player that we have been aware of for a long time and with his situation in Perth, we ensured that we capitalised to bring him to the club.
“He brings both A-League experience as well as an abundance of potential to develop and improve at a rapid rate. We look forward to having him with us and see him bringing a lot of value to our squad.”
Originally published as Sydney FC and Socceroos defender Hayden Matthews poised to join Portsmouth
‘Pathetic’: Postecoglou incident says it all
Ange Postecoglou has been forced to address his future after the Tottenham manager sunk to a new low with an ugly incident caught on camera.
The Tackle: Why it’s crunch time for Sydney FC
Sydney FC has hit a crossroads in its season and it’s not about to get any easier while Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles must be applauded for his decision making. Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde break it down.