With Danny Murphy a distant memory and Alexei Smertin destined to move back to Russia, manager Alan Curbishley will now be linked with a number of centre midfielders for a summer move to South-East London.
And with Portsmouth expected to return to the Championship in May, a mass exodus could take place on the South Coast. O’Neil has been one of the shining lights for Pompey this season and has also been linked with Aston Villa, Wigan and Liverpool.