Portsmouth are set to finalise a deal for Ricardo Rocha as Steve Cotterill also looks at the loan market.
Cotterill needed to be convinced by defender
Portsmouth are set to finalise a deal to re-sign Ricardo Rocha, while Steve Cotterill is looking to add another couple of players on loan.
The Portuguese defender was offered a new contract over the summer but it was unclear whether he would accept following Pompey's relegation from the Premier League.
He explored other options before deciding to pledge his future to the South Coast club, and the deal is expected to be tied up during a meeting with chief executive David Lampitt later on Friday.
Cotterill also spoke with Rocha to make sure the 31-year-old retained a desire to play at Fratton Park.
"It's been a game of bluff a bit but one we've ended up winning," he told
The News.
"At the end of the day, by saying 'don't come' I thought it might work out in the long run. Now he has come to us.
"Maybe his options have narrowed. But I had to see him, look him in the eye and see he wants to play for this club."
Competition
The transfer window closed on Tuesday but Pompey will be able to make emergency loan signings from next week.
Cotterill is hoping to do a bit more business and, having completed late deals for Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson, the manager is feeling more relaxed about the options at his disposal.
He said: "We need to get more players across the line and make us stronger. Players don't like competition but it's good for them.
"We've not had that but we're starting to get there a bit.
"There's a couple we are talking to. We need to get more players across the line to make us stronger.
"We've not had a lot of options but we've been trying to address a lot of areas.
"It's been hard but I do feel there is a chink of light and we are starting to move forward a bit."
