Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has expressed a desire to bring Blackburn Rovers defender Hayden Carter back to Fratton Park for the 2022-23 League One season - whether that be on a permanent basis or on loan once again.

Carter joined Pompey in the January transfer window on loan for the remainder of the current campaign, and he's appeared 21 times in League One under Cowley since.

After playing most of the season in a back three, Carter has featured for the last few weeks as a right-back in a back four, proving to Cowley that he has a bit of versatility in his locker.

 

 

 

 

Tony Mowbray handed Carter nine Championship outings at Blackburn in the first half of the season, however the return of Scott Wharton pushed him down the pecking order at Ewood Park and led to his loan to Pompey.

The 22-year-old has clearly made quite an impression on Cowley as he is keen on making a fresh move for Carter in the summer - and he would be open to turning the arrangement into a full-time one.

"These are the young players we should be trying to sign, for sure," Cowley said of Carter, per The News.
"I’m really respectful to Blackburn Rovers, though.
"Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus I know well, and we’re appreciative they loaned him to us.
"I know they are pleased with how we’ve looked after him and how he’s developed.
"For us, if we could take Hayden on either a permanent or a loan next year, we’d love to do that.
"I think sometimes when you take players on loan, if you take them on loan with a view to a permanent, this could be a really good way to recruit for the football club." The Verdict Carter clearly has some potential and to be featuring week in, week out in a good Pompey side is perhaps an indication of his talent levels. He would likely cost a transfer fee though from Blackburn as he's on a contract until 2024 - and Portsmouth haven't brought many players in using that method recently. Carter though could be worth it as he's still only 22 years old and still has developing to do, but whoever Blackburn's manager is next season might want him in their plans considering Darragh Lenihan is out of contract. It could be an ambitious play for Pompey if they do go in for Carter permanently, but if you don't ask, you don't get.