Portsmouth chief identifies position to strengthen in final piece of January transfer business

Pompey are weighing up recruiting another goalkeeper as they consider one final piece of January transfer window business.
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With Rasmus Nicolaisen and Jordy Hiwula staying, the Blues boss is now happy with his outfield options.

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However, Alex Bass’ calf injury has forced Pompey to consider plunging in the market one last time.

Presently, the only back-up alternative to Craig MacGillivray is rookie Duncan Turnbull and teenager Taylor Seymour.

The solution could be to deregister Turnbull – who has been in the Blues’ last five match-day squads – and add a more experienced number two.

And Mark Catlin revealed it’s a transfer dilemma occupying their thoughts.

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He told The News: ‘Any more business will depend on injuries, we could pick up one in the next few days, but as a whole we are pretty much done.

Mark Catlin revealed Pompey have potentially one more position to fill during the January transfer window. Picture: Joe PeplerMark Catlin revealed Pompey have potentially one more position to fill during the January transfer window. Picture: Joe Pepler
Mark Catlin revealed Pompey have potentially one more position to fill during the January transfer window. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘Possibly under the cap we could squeeze another player in, if absolutely required.

‘Not wanting to look at any particular position on the pitch, but, with Alex injured, it has to be judged whether we need another goalkeeper.

‘I think that’s the one position - and we have one space left.

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‘If there is any injury now we would have to react, but given the constraints of the salary cap and the squad we’ve got, overall it looks very balanced and covered in most areas.

‘However, we are still on the lookout. You can deregister and add players still, so that would have to come from within the squad and is dependent on injuries at the moment.

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‘Registration has to be completed when the transfer window closes and at that point we have to make a decision.

‘The only position you have more of a flexibility is the goalkeeper. The emergency loan rules mean you can bring a keeper in if you don’t have any fit professional keepers after the window.

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‘Other than that, I don’t think you’ll see a lot of activity from now until Monday.’

The transfer window closes on Monday, February 1 at 11pm.

At the same time, Pompey must lodge details of their 22-man squad with the Football League.

At present it is at the maximum of 22, including three goalkeepers – MacGillivray, the injured Bass and Turnbull.

Catling added: ‘The regulations for keeping to squad rules are like a copy of War And Peace and has created so much work for Tony Brown and Anbel Roman, our club secretary.

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‘A lot of the rules contradict themselves. One regulation says you can do it, one regulation says you can’t do it. It’s trying to find out and get some clarity on what is allowed and not allowed.

‘The devil is in the detail and a lot of the detail, because it is the first year, is still evolving. It has been difficult.’

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