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Exclusive:Portsmouth weigh up deal for £8m man as former Nottingham Forest and UD Almeria player bids for stay Pompey are pushing on with their transfer business and see the man who moved to UD Almeria for £8m as a real contender to arrive this summer. Pompey are strongly considering tabling a contract offer to Arvin Appiah as he bids for a Fratton stay. The News understands the Blues see the out-of-contract left-sided player as a serious option to bolster their squad, as he looks for a new club this summer. £8m UD Almeria signing a ‘serious option’ to arrive at Pompey this summer Appiah has linked up with John Mousinho’s squad in pre-season, featuring in their past two pre-season outings at Bristol Rovers and Wycombe. The man who moved to La Liga outfit UD Almeria for £8m from Nottingham Forest in 2018 has made a favourable impression in training in that time, as Pompey push on with strengthening their squad this summer. Appiah has operated on the left wing in his career but played in a deeper role in more recent times, with the full-back position the one the 25-year-old is being considered for at PO4. There’s a realisation the Dutch-born former England age-group international is playing catch-up in terms of fitness and conditioning, with the former Championship operator still a distance from being in his optimum condition. Mousinho does see Appiah as a major consideration to bolster the left-back department this summer however, with that area of the pitch an area of transfer focus. Connor Ogilvie is the established first choice there at present, but is set to miss the start of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Aussie Jacob Farrell has suffered another groin injury setback and is facing two months out, with the former Central Coast Mariners man looking to move on this summer. Versatile right-back Jordan Williams has been featuring at left-back in pre-season, while Zak Swanson returned from knee surgery at Wycombe on Saturday and has operated on that side of defence. Appiah ‘fits the bill’ as someone to strengthen Pompey left-back department Pompey clearly need a specialist operator in that position, with Appiah now seen as someone who fits the bill. The Blues’ football operation are ploughing on with recruitment business, with the EFL season now less than two weeks away as Mousinho’s men go to West Ham in the Carabao Cup. The Championship then gets underway with QPR arriving at Fratton Park on August 15. Pompey’s transfer business has kicked on over the past couple of weeks, with five new faces recruited to date. Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Rocco Shein, Marko Milovanović and Daniel Bielica make the signings through the door so far. New Zealand teenage prospect Luke Brooke-Smith is set to arrive from A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix.