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Then there were four, but will there be more? Pompey add to defender to ranks

Aji Alese has become Pompey's fourth signing of the current transfer window - and now fans are wondering how many more new faces will be in the door before Monday's deadline.

The 25-year-old Sunderland defender arrives at a time when Pompey have injury worries over virtually all the central defenders at the club - as was evident when the Blues ended last Sunday's Southampton clash with four full-backs across the back line.

Alese has had his share of injury problems in his career to date but is highly rated and has Championship experience, and would appear to be in line to come straight into the side for Saturday's clash with West Brom.

He joins Millenic Alli, Ebou Adams and Keshi Anderson as January arrivals and boss John Mousinho has been asked how many more signings he expects.

The News reported this response from Mousinho when he was asked that question - though he was speaking before Alese's arrival had been confirmed: ‘Between one and six! Maybe that’s a mad spread, but a more realistic one is two or three.

‘If we did two that’d be fine with what we’ve done already, if we do three that’s six (in total) - and it would’ve been a good January.’

A striker is top of most fans' shopping lists, while another winger seems a possibility and another central defender - even after Alese has signed - could be on the radar with resources so stretched in that department.

Meanwhile the squad's focus has turned to Saturday's Fratton visit of West Brom - who Pompey can overtake in the table with a win.

The Blues then host Ipswich in a rearranged game next Tuesday and go to Preston the following Saturday as a hectic February gets going.

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