Royals boss confirms keeper loan move to Pompey

The highly-regarded Danish talent has been earmarked to link up with the Blues.

Royals boss Brian McDermott confirmed he has given the green light for the 23-year-old to move to Fratton Park.

That is going to free up McDermott to make a move for former Manchester City keeper Stuart Taylor, who is now a free agent.

McDermott said: ‘We’ve possibly got a deal with Portsmouth for Mikkel to go there on loan.

‘If that’s the case, we will try to do something with Stuart (Taylor).’

Pompey are currently under a transfer embargo, but will hope to be allowed to bring players in once the big wage earners at the club move on.

Their goalkeeping situation is dire at present and needs focusing on ahead of the new campaign, which starts on August 18.

It appears Andersen will be the man to help alleviate worries in that area.

The former Denmark under-21 keeper is highly thought of at the Madejski Stadium.

It’s believed there is little chance of the 6ft 5in keeper being allowed to leave the club on a permanent basis.

Andersen arrived at Reading in 2007 from his homeland but has spent his time in England on loan at a succession of different clubs.

To date, he has picked up playing time at Torquay, Rushden, Brentford, Brighton and, most extensively, Bristol Rovers.

Triallist Simon Eastwood is Pompey’s only current goalkeeping option.

Eastwood is away with the rest of the first-team set-up at their Spanish training camp.

He arrived at Pompey at the start of pre-season, despite moving to Bradford Park Avenue from FC Halifax Town.

Kettering’s Laurie Walker was another keeper Michael Appleton was running the rule over, but he has now returned to his club.

Slovenian stopper Darjan Curanovic was linked with a trial, which Pompey decided not to pursue. The club’s longest-serving player, keeper Jamie Ashdown, left the club in the summer after his contract came to a close.