Mark Catlin outlines route to Portsmouth bringing in targets from Championship and Premier League

Chief executive Mark Catlin believes the Blues will get ‘more bang for their buck’ by opting for temporary deals to bolster their squad next term.

Pompey are in talks with Premier League and Championship clubs over sending their players to Fratton Park next term.

It’s an avenue Catlin believes makes sense with the wage cap hanging over League One, ahead of the crucial vote due to take place on Friday.

The move could potentially open the door to players commanding salaries which would otherwise be out of Pompey’s reach, with the £2.5m ceiling proposed at third-tier level.

Barnsley’s Cameron McGeehan is one example, with the midfielder believed to be commanding a fee in the region of £6,000 per week with a year left on his deal at Oakwell.

That kind of money would likely put him beyond Kenny Jackett’s reach, but with his parent club contributing to the deal it makes such a move viable.

Catlin said: ‘If you do the maths of the salary cap you’re looking at a basically salary in the region of £1,300 or £1,400 per week (per player).

‘That’s a huge amount in the real world but in the football world that’s a salary akin to National League and League Two clubs these days. So it’s a massive transition for us should the vote go through.

‘So loans do become a lot more important because you do get a lot more bang for your buck. You really do.

‘I remember a time when you could get players not playing in the Championship on £15,000 a week. You had a great chance of getting them at £2,000 or £3,000 per week.

‘That doesn’t exist anymore and clubs are a lot smarter over what they are prepared to let them out for, however, it’s a route in the current environment which potentially offers us good value.’

Pompey this week sealed deals for Lee Brown and Sean Raggett, to take Jackett’s squad size to 20.

The prospective EFL plans will limit squad sizes to 22, but not include players under the age of 21.

Haji Mnoga is the only player in that category for the Blues at present, potentially leaving three spots remaining.

Catlin explained Pompey may have to wait to get the men they want if they do pursue loan options to fill those spots.

He added: ‘In regards of the salary cap squad size of 22, given we’ve already got 19 over the age of 21 contracted – so we’ve only got three slots.

‘Strategically, we wanted to get some in before the salary cap and the last two or three spaces will be loans potentially from other clubs.

‘With pre-season not started yet for them, the clubs we’re speaking to about these players are very much in the mindset they want to get their players back and have a look at them before deciding if they want to loan them out next season.’

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