John Mousinho: Portsmouth were not forced to sell Callum Lang

Portsmouth did not have to sell forward Callum Lang in the January transfer window, according to boss John Mousinho.

Preston North End signed the 27-year-old for a club record undisclosed fee on deadline day but Mousinho says Lang’s sale was not out of necessity in order to balance the books.

The move means Liverpool-born Lang returns to the north west having signed for Pompey from Wigan Athletic in January 2024.

“We took everything into consideration – first of all the valuation was met late on and Callum made it clear he wanted to leave as well,” the head coach told BBC Radio Solent.

“We stick by what we said and the football club not needing to sell players to bring the money in but at that stage we had over and above the valuation of the player, we had a player who wanted do leave.

“So at that stage we thought it was good business for the club.”

Injuries have limited Lang to only eight Championship appearances this season, scoring two goals.

Portsmouth face his new club on Saturday (15:01 GMT) with a trip to Deepdale but Lang has not featured since Boxing Day because of a hamstring issue.

“I was consulted throughout and the decision was made quite late to allow Callum to leave,” added Mousinho.

“We were firm in what we thought the valuation of Callum was, we weren’t going to cave [in] in terms of that.

“It was never a case of we might have a player who isn’t happy here that’s going to force our hand, it was just getting the right valuation and doing what was right for the football club.”

Listen to more Portsmouth interviews and content on BBC Sounds.