Bristol Rovers would be signing a player with "so much potential" in Adam May, but the midfielder's progression has been halted by a lack of games.
The Gas are reportedly interested in signing the Pompey academy graduate after he was released last month.
He played 30 games for the club, but was unable to break through after a series of loan spells away.
The News reports Rovers are one of several clubs keen on the 22-year-old midfielder.
To get an insight into May's ability, Bristol Live spoke to Neil Allen – The News' Pompey reporter.
Who is Adam May?
He’s a talented player but had incredibly bad luck with his loan spells last year. He went to Swindon on a season-long loan with the idea of getting him regular football, because he never had that.
He was in the last year of his contract, so he thought it could help him. But unfortunately he really struggled for games.
Pompey thought it was best that he came back early, so they recalled him in January, and then he went to Boreham Wood in the National League.
He only played a few times for them and then the season was curtailed. Last season was a disaster for him really, and it was nothing to do with injury or anything like that, he was just really unlucky with his moves and it was no surprise when Pompey released him.
What’s his best position and what are his best attributes?
He’s a central midfielder with a lovely range of passing. He’s not a sitting player and he can break forwards. He’s quite a cultured player and he’s got a good shot on him.
I always remember a wonderful game he played against Arsenal under-21s in the EFL Trophy in the 2018/19 season. He was absolutely magnificent.
Why did he struggle to break through at Pompey?
He’s definitely got ability, without doubt. He’s got so much potential but he’s never had games unfortunately.
Paul Cook came in and created a superb team for two years, and there were no looks there. Ben Close was ahead of him as a homegrown regular as well, so he’s never had the chance.
Pompey are a side that’s expected to challenge for promotion and there has not been the time to blood youngsters and give opportunities to May.
What was the reaction of supporters when he was released?
Everyone accepted he would go as it was a season that would define him, but he didn’t because he didn’t get games.
He was really unfortunate. If he’d gone somewhere and played games and proven himself it could have been different, he could have had a career at Pompey and a new contract.
This was a make-or-break season and he knew it, and unfortunately he never had games.
Pompey haven’t got a development squad, so there hasn’t been the opportunity to even play under-23s football.
He needs to move on for his career and everyone accepts that.
Are there any particular weaknesses in his game?
Physicality has been raised a few times and clearly consistency as well, but you get that from playing games.
Do you think he can make the grade in League One?
Not at the moment, I don’t think. He didn’t play too many times in League Two for Swindon last year. Swindon were doing very well in fairness, and obviously it was tough to get in.
He could definitely play, or compete, for League Two at the moment, but from there it’s up to him.
At Pompey, who are looking for promotion from League One, he’s not going to be challenging for the first team.
He was really highly regarded, but his development has suffered through a lack of games. Pompey as a side developed, and there just wasn’t room for him.
