Room for one more signing - how Portsmouth's squad looks under salary cap restrictions
Rasmus Nicolaisen has arrived – and it leaves Pompey with one remaining possible transfer.
In accordance with salary cap changes, League One and League Two clubs are permitted to register a maximum of 22 players aged 21 and above.
That means Pompey have an empty slot ahead of the October 16 closure of the transfer window.
However, that tally does not include the presence of Duncan Turnbull, who the club are seeking to loan out when Alex Bass recovers from injury.
The Blues’ preference is to have two keepers in their 22-man squad, with the possibility of adding another should there be an emergency.
That would discount third-choice Turnbull – and allow 20 outfield players in their set-up.
Should they manage to offload the 28-year-old, it would create an additional space.
Incidentally, should any exit involve a loan, it remains to be seen what proportion of the salary cap would be required to continue paying one of last season’s leading earners.
Certainly Jackett is well equipped for centre-halves at present and can lose one.
Of the eight defenders presently in the squad, Nicolaisen, Sean Raggett and Jack Whatmough are ahead of Downing.
In addition, James Bolton’s versatility has meant him featuring above Downing on the bench for some fixtures this season.
Bolton is also competing with first-choice Callum Johnson for the right-back position, while Lee Brown and Cam Pring are fighting it out for left-back.
Haji Mnoga, who the Blues are keen to find loan football for, is not counted in squad numbers as he is under 21.
In terms of midfield, the loan departure of Reeco Hackett-Fairchild to Bromley leaves nine available for selection.
Jackett has three central midfielders in Ben Close, Tom Naylor and Bryn Morris, and the versatility of Gareth Evans and Andy Cannon.
Ryan Williams and Marcus Harness are challenging for the right wing, with Ronan Curtis on the left.
Meanwhile, Michael Jacobs’s arrival provides a number 10 option, while at Wigan he largely operated on the right or left flank.
Finally, there are two conventional strikers on Pompey’s books – John Marquis and Ellis Harrison.
It’s a position which does look light on numbers, yet Jackett prefers to utilise one forward in his starting line-up for the 4-2-3-1 system.
However, Harrison did come off the bench at Rochdale on Sunday to partner Marquis in attack in pursuit of a breakthrough in the goalless draw.
With one spot remaining, Jackett could well opt to strengthen that particular field during the final 23 days of the transfer window.
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