Donovan loan deal now unlikely
It is unlikely that Landon Donovan will be loaned out to Pompey because of FIFA's new transfer regulations.
Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric confirmed on Monday that Portsmouth had reached agreements with the 21-year-old forward inconjunction with Major League Soccer and the German team Bayer Leverkusen, who share his rights.
But FIFA, soccer's governing body, told the U.S. Soccer Federation that it must limit transfers to two periods per year. The MLS can obtain players from foreign teams from Jan. 1 until March 31 and from Aug. 15 until Sept. 15.
It is understood that Pompey are still interested but the new regulations make it unlikely that the American will sign.
Donovan, who has 15 goals in 45 international appearances, helped the U.S. team reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup and San Jose win last year's MLS title. He also helped the Americans to the semifinals of the 2000 Olympic competition in Sydney.