Portsmouth ready to explore alternative route to get Barnsley's Cameron McGeehan to Fratton

The midfielder is a wanted man by Kenny Jackett after his loan stay from Championship Barnsley came to a close.

McGeehan was under the spotlight this week as his missed penalty condemned the Blues to another season in League One, as they lost on penalties to Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.

That brought his loan stay at Fratton Park to a disappointing close after arriving in January, but there is a desire from both player and club for McGeehan to be wearing a Pompey shirt next season.

The News revealed on Tuesday Jackett is ready to move to land the 25-year-old and remains a big fan of former Luton talent’s passing quality in the middle of the park.

There are significant obstacles in that path, however, with Pompey feeling the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic like the rest of the English game.

They are looking at a gaping hole in their budget with supporters, at best, likely to be restricted in the numbers who can attend home games for a sizeable part of the 2020-21 campaign

There is also the massive issue of the onset of a wage cap to factor in, with League One likely to be operating under a £2.5m ceiling in the new campaign.

That could leave a loan move as a viable alternative, with McGeehan having 12 months remaining on his existing deal at Barnsley.

It remains to be seen how receptive the Oakwell hierarchy would be to such a move, however, although it appears McGeehan’s days at the club are numbered. The Londoner was out of favour under boss Gerhard Struber, following his arrival last November.

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