Incomings, outgoings and potential curveballs: how Portsmouth stand as transfer deadline looms

League One clubs have little more than two days to complete any remaining business before the window slams shut at 5pm on Friday.

Behind the scenes at Fratton Park, Kenny Jackett, Mark Catlin and Co will be working away to tie up any remaining deals in the offing.

While the Pompey boss again reiterated that activity will be ‘minimal’ after Saturday’s defeat of MK Dons, it'd be a surprise if there's not at least one arrival or departure.

We take a look at where the Blues’ business currently stands.

What type of player do Pompey want to recruit?

Jackett remains fairly relaxed about the current shape of his squad.

After recruiting five players so far this summer – Sean Raggett, Cam Pring, Callum Johnson, Michael Jacobs and Rasmus Nicolaisen – there doesn't seem to be any real panic.

If Pompey are to bring in a fresh face, though, they must fall into one of the following two categories.

The player must either be someone who'd immediately come into the starting line-up and make a difference in the promotion push.

Alternatively, a youngster who'd be exempt from the salary cap restrictions is another option being explored.

What positions are being focused on?

You'd have had to have been living on a deserted island for the past week to not know Pompey are desperate for Ben Thompson to return.

Following the slow start to the season, Jackett shifted his recruitment focus to the engine room and that it requires bolstering.

With Thompson currently out of Millwall's starting line-up, the Blues have enquired about him potentially returning on loan.

Jackett's said it's unlikely the Fratton favourite will be back after making an outstanding impact during the first half of the 2018-19 season, although Pompey aren't giving up.

However, an alternative operator in the middle of the park arriving is realistic should they miss out on Thompson.

The boss hasn't been all that pleased with the combination of Tom Naylor and Bryn Morris and someone different to what the Blues have already could be prised to PO4.

In addition, Pompey appear a body light up front, with Ellis Harrison and John Marquis the only current options.

As both are senior players and arrived for big-money fees last summer, an upcoming forward under 21 is the ilk of player the Blues covet.

Wolves' Niall Ennis is one player that's been identified, having registered six goals and four assists on loan at Doncaster last term.

Who could depart?

Pompey are willing to allow Paul Downing to leave should there be sufficient interest.

As things stand, Downing and the Blues would both be open to him exiting the club as it would be best for both parties.

The centre-back hasn't played in the league for more than a year and slipped further out of favour when Nicolaisen was brought in from FC Midtjylland last month.

However, it very much depends on whether any potential suitors will take Downing

Having signed a three-year deal last summer, he'll be on a decent wage. In the current economic climate, coupled with the implementation of the wage cap, clubs may not be able to afford the ex-Blackburn man.

Should Downing not be moved on then James Bolton could instead leave.

He's more versatile than Downing, capable of playing right-back or centre-half, so that's why Pompey would currently rather keep him.

Bolton's been omitted from the past four League One squads. Meanwhile, the emergence of Haji Mnoga – who was 19th man yet again against MK Dons – means he can cover Johnson.

Allowing Bolton to exit would give the Blues more leeway in their budget.

Could there be a curveball?

You can never say never. Remember when Stephen Henderson was brought in on deadline day in January 2018?

Or when Kyle Bennett had his contract expired by mutual consent hours earlier – some six months after penning a three-year deal? Few could have predicted those happening.

In the unlikely scenario that Thompson is recruited, that would mean Pompey have five centre-midfielders – perhaps one more than necessary.

Ben Close has made just one substitute appearance in the third tier so far. Against the backdrop of being surplus to requirements for both play-off games with Oxford in July, he's all of a sudden found himself on the fringes.

If a club made an 11th-hour approach to take the Southsea lad on loan with a promise to more minutes, that could well prove tempting.

Meanwhile, Andy Cannon's made only one start in the league also and didn't come off the bench against MK Dons.

The Rochdale man was frustrated when out of the fray last term and is finding himself in a similar situation.

Out of contract in June, he's wary he needs to be playing regularly at the age of 24.