Portsmouth could find it difficult to sign Championship fringe players in the January transfer window - here's why

The January transfer window opens on Friday and it’s a chance for Pompey to bolster their League One promotion aspirations.

Wholesale changes have been ruled out at Fratton Park, with the Blues first and foremost focusing on bringing in an additional midfielder.

Ben Thompson’s name has unsurprisingly popped up again after Pompey missed out on prising him back to the south coast from Millwall in the summer.

Yet Kenny Jackett will focus their attention away from Thompson, who’s reluctant to drop back down to League One despite being down the pecking order at the Lions.

Usually, January is a window where fringe players are generally traded between clubs. Few prized assets are sold – and if they are then it's for an inflated price.

But those who are surplus to requirements are often granted departures to clubs in a lower division where they'll be guaranteed more game-time.

The players Pompey have recruited in winters gone by have generally fitted that mould.

During the 2018-19 season, the likes of Omar Bogle (Cardiff) and Viv Solomon-Otabor (Birmingham) moved from the Championship to the third tier.

And 12 months ago, Cameron McGeehan and Steve Seddon joined the Blues after finding themselves out of favour at Barnsley and Birmingham respectively.

The duo both subsequently became regular starters at Fratton Park as Pompey fell to play-off semi-final defeat to Oxford.

However, a key rule change in the Championship means it'll likely be more difficult for the Blues to recruit players the ilk of McGeehan and Seddon this time around.

Because of the added risk of injury amid a condensed season because of the coronavirus pandemic, the EFL amended regulation 33.4 last month

The amendment now permits 'Championship clubs to name up to nine substitutes in their matchday squad, with five permitted to take to the pitch in any fixture'.

Now there are two extra slots on the bench that need filling, which will be taken up by players who’d previously be left out of match-day squads.

What’s more, teams are being pragmatic that their players could catch Covid or have to self-isolate if they’ve been with someone who has tested positive.

That all leads to the fact that there may be more relucatance o allow fringe men to leave this January. Instead, more might kept on the periphery and forced to sit tight until the summer.

Some managers may well look at players’ personal situations and give green light departures for the good of their careers.

But, as Jackett always says, it’s a boss’ job to look after their club. And there’s likely plenty of Championship outfit who will take that stance.