Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett reveals exact position over move for prolific target for Dundee United, Hibs, Rangers and Shrewsbury

Pompey have been offered prolific Scottish striker Kevin Nisbet.
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But Kenny Jackett’s wealth of attacking options will steer him away for a move for the in-demand Dunfermline striker.

The Blues boss confirmed the man who is attracting interest from the likes of Rangers, Hibs, Dundee United as well as League One Shrewsbury is a player who’s come up in conversation over the course of the season after a goal-laden campaign in the Scottish Championship.

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Nisbet has blasted in 23 strikes in 32 games this term on top of the 34 finishes he smashed in to finish as the Scoittsh League One top scorer with Raith Rovers last term.

There are currently six players to cover the three attacking positions in the 4-2-3-1 set-up the Blues have largely utilised this term - and all of them are contracted for next season.

With the huge uncertainty around football finances at present amid the coronavirus pandemic, Jackett explained those attacking options are likely to be plentiful for Pompey going forward.

He said: ‘We were asked about him (Nisbet) last year.

Kevin Nisbet. Picture: Christian Cooksey/Getty ImagesKevin Nisbet. Picture: Christian Cooksey/Getty Images
Kevin Nisbet. Picture: Christian Cooksey/Getty Images

‘We’ve got strikers on contracts here anyway.

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‘If we’re looking at Ryan Williams, Marcus Harness, Ellis Harrison, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild, John Marquis and Ronan Curtis - there’s six forwards there for our front three positions.

‘All of them are under contract for the next year.

‘So it’s not an area we’re necessarily looking at now.

‘With the financial landscape it’s difficult to chase any players now - so, no, he’s not one we’re going for.’

When it comes to recruitment moving forward, Jackett believes Pompey will join much of English football in proceeding cautiously.

A date towards the start of October has been mooted by Uefa as the cut-off point for the next transfer window, with the prospect of clubs trying to tackle, in part, the holes in their finances by focussing on loan additions.

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Jackett added: ‘Next season there’s different things suggested but there’s nothing definite.

‘So we have to see on a start date, if and when they let crowds in - that looks like it will be later on.

‘I would suggest most clubs will be very conservative in their planning for next year. They would have to be.

‘Whether that opens up when we see what next season looks like in terms of squad and the transfer window and whether that’s different we’ll see.

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‘I have seen the Uefa suggestions where they’re talking about October 6 which is extending it. That makes a difference in terms of loan players coming in and the possibility of extending the amount of loans available.

‘I do think that’s going to have to come in.

‘So it’s quite early in terms of the transfer window and what it actually looks like is making everyone very conservative at the moment.’

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