Portsmouth’s upcoming opponents, Luton Town, may need to break their transfer record if they want to secure the services of Cardiff City’s Mark McGuinness. The two sides are set to clash on Saturday at Fratton Park as Championship football returns to the venue after a 12-year hiatus.

Although Luton’s manager, Rob Edwards, would like to see McGuinness join his squad before the match, Cardiff City’s asking price of £10 million for the defender appears to be a significant obstacle. Cardiff’s manager, Erol Bulut, confirmed receiving an offer for McGuinness but stated that it falls short of their valuation of the player. He emphasized that McGuinness remains a Cardiff City player for now and that the club is not rushed to sell him at a price below their expectations.

Luton, who have made limited moves in the transfer market since their promotion to the Championship, have only secured two free transfers so far. Facing Portsmouth following a 4-1 defeat to Burnley in their season opener, Luton might see McGuinness as a valuable addition to bolster their squad.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth is also seeking a centre-back before the transfer window closes, given the absence of Regan Poole and Tom McIntyre due to injuries. The defensive duties against Luton might fall to Conor Shaughnessy and Ryley Towler, who formed a partnership in the recent 3-3 draw against Leeds.