The priority will therefore be players under the age of 23 with the view of developing their games further, making the most of their hunger and hopefully making a sizeable profit on them later down the line.
This season, a number of up-and-coming players have featured regularly for Danny Cowley, with Gavin Bazunu, Hayden Carter and George Hirst the most notable contributors.
But how does the Blues’ use of such players compare to others in League One this season? Were Pompey less inclined to play younger players and more reliant on experienced campaigners? Or did the youthful members of the group get adequate chances to impress?
Based on minutes given to under-23 players over the course of the 2021-22 campaign, this is what we found.
17. Burton - 8th
Number of minutes: 17,358; Under-23s players: Matej Kovar, Williams Kokolo, Thomas Hamer, Joe Powell, Terry Taylor, Ciaran Gilligan, Jacob Maddox, Charlie Lakin, Gassan Ahadme, Christain Saydee. Photo: Warren Little
18. Accrington - 7th
Number of minutes: 18,758; Under-23s players: Liam Isherwood, Toby Savin, James Traffordm, Jay Rich-Baghuelou, Ross Sykes, Mitchell Clarke, Yeboah Amankwah, Ethan Hamilton, Liam Coyle, Tommy Leigh, Rossarie Longelo, Jack Nolan, Marcel Lewis, Joel Mumbongo, Josh Woods, Korede Adedoyin Photo: Lewis Storey
19. Sunderland - 6th
Number of minutes: 19,370; Under-23s players: Anthony Patterson, Ron-Thorben Hoffmann, Niall Huggins, Callum Doyle, Dennis Cirkin, Trai Hume, Elliot Embleton, Dan Neill, Jack Clarke, Jay Matete, Leon Dajaku, Jack Diamond. Photo: Alex Burstow
20. Crewe - 5th
Number of minutes: 23,551; Under-23s players: Will Jaaskelainen, Ryan Alebiousu, Rio Adebisi, Luke Offord, Billy Sass-Davies, Travis Johnson, Michael Williams, Connor O’Riordan, Sean Lawton, Lewis Billington, Rakeem Harper, Regan Griffiths, Josh Lundstrum, Scott Robertson, Tariq Uwakwe, Ben Knight, Tyreece Onyeka, Connor Salisbury, Joel Tabiner. Photo: Pete Norton