Portsmouth are aiming to sign Tranmere Rovers central defender Manny Monthe, according to reports.

The 25-year-old has been a long-time target of the South Coast club and after Kenny Jackett’s side lost out in the League One play-off semi-finals to Oxford, the club have set about making plans to strengthen ahead of next season.

Monthe was part of the Tranmere side that won promotion from League Two in 2018-19, and the Super White Army looked as though they were going to stay up this season before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all play.

Rovers were relegated when the clubs in League One voted to end the season using a points per game system, a decision which could cost the Birkenhead club as much as £1 million, according to owner Mark Palios.

This will undoubtedly lead to some star players leaving, and Pompey are hoping Monthe will be one of them. According to Alan Nixon, he is one of their main targets this summer.

Monthe made 39 appearances for Rovers this season, scoring three goals for Micky Mellon’s outfit. Tranmere have seen the popular manager head to Scotland to become the boss at Dundee United and they will be searching for a new coach to take them forward.

Some of the favourites to take over at Prenton Park are Anthony Barry, Robbie Fowler, John McGreal and Nigel Adkins. Both Tim Cahill and Ryan Lowe have also been mentioned as possible targets, but they are seen as less likely appointments for the League Two club.