Portsmouth are not interested in signing midfielder Jack Payne this summer, a report from The News has revealed.

Payne is currently a free agent after leaving Swindon Town this summer following the expiry of his contract at the County Ground, having scored 18 goals in 88 appearances during a two-year spell with the League Two club.

Payne previously played under current Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley at Lincoln City, and recent reports had suggested that there was an interest in a reunion between the pair at Fratton Park.

Now however, it seems as though such a deal will not be happening this summer as things stand.

According to this latest update, a move for Payne is not something that Portsmouth are considering at this moment in time, with the club instead looking to strengthen in other areas of the pitch.

So far this summer, Portsmouth have completed two senior signings, with midfielder Marlon Pack and and right-back Zak Swanson joining from Cardiff and Arsenal respectively.

It has also been claimed  that the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Crawley are interested in signing Payne this summer.

The Verdict

This is an interesting stance for Portsmouth to take over a potential deal for Payne.

On the one hand, Payne's record for Swindon last season in particular suggests he could be a very good signing for Pompey, especially on a free transfer.

However, when you consider the options that Cowley has in that position with the likes of Pack, Louis Thompson, Joe Morrell and Ryan Tunnicliffe, they are already well stocked in that position.

By contrast, Portsmouth are badly short on players to call on in the centre forward role, that is something that surely needs to be worked on immediately this summer.