Portsmouth were close to securing a loan move for defender George Edmundson before Ipswich Town blew them out of the water for a permanent deal, according to the BBC's Andrew Moon.

Danny Cowley has been looking for more depth in defence following the departure of Jack Whatmough to Wigan Athletic, with Clark Robertson already signed from Rotherham United on a free transfer.

It has now emerged though that 23-year-old Edmundson was a serious target for Pompey, and it looks like the club had agreed a deal with Rangers to take the centre-back to the south coast for the 2021-22 campaign.

However the Tractor Boys, who have splashed the cash this summer under new American ownership group Gamechanger 20, pipped their league rivals to Edmundson's signature after offering a £750,000 fee, per the East Anglian Daily Express.

 

 

 

 

Instead of heading to Fratton Park temporarily, Edmundson has signed a four-year contract at Portman Road and it significantly strengthens Paul Cook's hand as the Suffolk side aim for promotion to the Championship.

It means another target lost out on for Portsmouth though, who have seen a number of key players including Whatmough, Tom Naylor and Ben Close depart for pastures new this summer.

The club have had to cut their cloth accordingly so far this summer and the latest transfer news has left fans with even more of a sense of frustration.