Portsmouth re-uniting with Jamal Lowe could be best for all parties: View | OneFootball

Following a stellar League One season, Portsmouth won the third tier title and made their return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

John Mousinho could not have wished for a better first full season as a manager, as his Pompey side won 97 points and lost just five games all campaign.

But after 12 years away from the second tier, the Hampshire outfit will need to sign experienced Championship players this summer as they look to retain their league status.

Pompey re-signing Jamal Lowe would be an ideal move for player and club

Jamal Lowe was a class act for Pompey after signing in January 2017 from non-league outfit Hampton and Richmond, where he scored 15 goals in 22 National League South appearances, which caught the eye of the then League Two club.

The Jamaica international helped the Fratton Park outfit to promotion from League Two to League One, by scoring four goals in 14 games at the back end of the 2016/17 fourth tier season.

During the following campaign, the ace scored six goals and produced seven assists as Pompey finished eighth in their first season back in the third tier following promotion.

But it was during the following 2018/19 season that Lowe really showed his class, as he made 23 goal contributions in League One by scoring 15 goals and creating eight assists as his side landed a play-off spot by finishing fourth.

The Hampshire outfit failed to win promotion that campaign, but Lowe's performances did enough to impress then Championship side Wigan Athletic, who secured his services ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Amid financial mismanagement during a season that paused and restarted due to Covid-19, which saw the Latics end up in administration by the summer of 2020, the forward scored six goals, which he complemented by adding five assists in Greater Manchester.

The Latics had no option but to sell their man while in administration, so Lowe joined Welsh side Swansea City, where he had an impressive first season.

In his first campaign at the Liberty Stadium, the 29-year-old scored 14 goals as the Swans secured a top-six spot, although they did not earn promotion back to the Premier League.

AFC Bournemouth signed Lowe in the summer of 2021, and he scored seven goals as well as producing two assists as the Dorset outfit were promoted to the top-flight following a successful 2021/22 season.

But the former Pompey man has not made his mark in the top-flight, and has endured loan spells at both QPR and back at Swansea over the last two seasons.

Lowe was able to rediscover his Championship form of old upon his return to south Wales by scoring nine goals, and adding three further assists to his tally.

He is now available as a free agent in the summer as the Cherries have not renewed his contract at the Vitality Stadium, so Pompey should make their move as they look to sign proven second tier players.

The Jamaica international has thrived at Fratton Park in the past, while Mousinho and co have the opportunity to re-unite the club with their former player.

Furthermore, following a somewhat turbulent time with the Cherries, Lowe will be looking to re-establish some stability as his career progresses.

Meanwhile, due to the relatively close geographical proximity of Bournemouth and Portsmouth, the ace would not need to relocate in order to make his Fratton Park return.

Lowe would be a solid Abu Kamara replacement

During Pompey's recent League One title-clinching season, Norwich City youth academy product Abu Kamara shone while on loan with Mousinho's men.

He scored eight goals while also providing 10 assists in the third tier, which was key to the club's promotion winning success, but Pompey are unlikely to be able to forge a fresh deal for the 20-year-old given the fact that new Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup was renowned for integrating youth players into the first team at former club Nordsjaelland.

Lowe would be a solid alternative to Kamara, who not only knows the club well, but has a dangerous eye for goal as well as a creative edge.

Lowe and Lane could be a dangerous wide duo

While the Jamaica international can play in multiple attacking roles, he is most likely to be deployed in the left-wing role if his former club choose to re-sign him due to the presence of Paddy Lane and Colby Bishop.

Bishop showed how clinical he can be at Fratton Park last season with 21 goals in League One, whereas Lane could form a dangerous wing duo with Lowe, after scoring 12 goals and making seven assists during 2023/24.

Furthermore, Lane is left-footed, while Lowe is right-footed, so having two widemen who would be able to cut inside and shoot while also supporting Bishop would create an exciting brand of attacking football for the Pompey faithful to watch in the Championship.