League Two Champions, Portsmouth are interested in bringing unwanted Cardiff midfielder Stuart O’Keefe to Fratton Park.
The 26 year-old was one of Cardiff’s best performers in the second half 2015/2016 season and had signed a contract extension not long after but has failed to make a way into Neil Warnock’s side.
Portsmout.co.uk say that the South-Coast side have identified Stuart O’Keefe as one of their next possible signings and exploring ways of signing him.
Pompey manager Kenny Jackett is trying to negotiate a move that will see O’Keefe join the club on a season-long loan as he seeks midfield options for the upcoming season.
It is a move that could benefit all parties as Portsmouth could offer to pay the wages of O’Keefe, which would help Cardiff free up the wage bill and could pave the way for another signing.
The move may not happen immediately though as Neil Warnock said the club is thin in some areas after the friendly against Livingston which could mean the Bluebirds are holding out on allowing one of their players to leave as they seek strength in some areas.
“We’re just a little bit short on cover in that area so we’ll have to look into that.”
O’Keefe was signed by then manager Russell Slade back in 2015 from Crystal Palace after beating off competition from fellow Championship side Millwall.
He signed originally on a two-year contract and made his debut immediately after signing for the club, having trained just two days after the completion of his transfer.
The Suffolk born midfielder found it hard to displace the partnership of Peter Whittingham, Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson and made just six competitive appearances for the club in the first six months of signing.
It would not be until January 2016 that O’Keefe burst onto the stage really with Cardiff City after a stand-out performance in Cardiff’s 3-1 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers helped him cement his place in the Cardiff City starting eleven.
O’Keefe finished the season with vital goals against Bristol City in the Severnside Derby and a 2-1 win over play-off chasing Derby County as the Bluebirds finished 8th that season.
Last season he spent the second half of the season on loan at Milton Keynes Dons where he scored four goals in sixteen appearances after being unable to break into the Cardiff side last season.
He described as a hard working, energetic, athletic midfielder by Grimsby Town boss Russell Slade and could become a big part of Portsmouth’ rise through the Football League again.
(Featured Image: Jon Candy)