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The Blues have nine members of their squad whose deals expire at the end of the season.

They include the likes of Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Andy Cannon and Ryan Williams - all of whom have been key players during this campaign’s League One promotion push.

Pompey are currently unable to offer any of their players fresh terms, though, due to salary cap restrictions that were implemented in the summer.

As things stand, the Blues could only pay the divisional average wage of around £1,750 per week – which would be a significant salary cut for most.

That means there is the possibility of Championship sides taking advantage when the transfer window reopens in just more than a month’s time.

Second-tier clubs could attempt to prise away players for cut-price deals by promising wages similar to what they’re on now.

But Jackett believes that won't happen to Pompey.

The boss told The News: ‘The contractual situation is different this year. With the salary cap being introduced in League One, it does change things.

‘Nobody can come in and take our players before the end of the season. That's it, they are under contract for the rest of the season.

‘If somebody came in for one of our players in January then they would still have to buy him.

‘No matter how long the player's contract is, there still would have to be an agreement in place.

‘The only one who is out of contract in January is Jordy Hiwula.

‘Everyone else has a contract for this particular season. I don't think that we are particularly vulnerable.’

Jackett would undoubtedly like players such as Naylor and Whatmough – who have both said they want to sign new deals – to extend their time on the south coast.

But the manager warned Pompey can’t hand fresh contracts to everyone at this early stage.

He insisted the Blues need to leave room in the budget for the summer to bring in some new faces.

Jackett added: ‘You've got to make sure you have enough flexibility at the end of the season, some spaces and some money going into a summer.

‘You can't secure your whole squad in January because you need to keep some options open for the summer.

‘Similarly, our players are doing quite well at the moment and it's not particularly a new group.

‘Persevering with the players that are here and giving them a chance to improve is part of it as well.

‘There have been a number of people this season who have fallen into that category. Getting the balance between the two is key.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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