Portsmouth seeking to offload Paul Downing after Rasmus Nicolaisen arrival

Yesterday’s loan arrival of Rasmus Nicolaisen from FC Midtjylland has pushed Downing even closer to the Fratton Park exit.

Nicolaisen will join Sean Raggett and Jack Whatmough in competing for the two centre-half berths.

It also represents another blow to Downing’s hopes of establishing himself in Kenny Jackett’s first-team.

As a consequence, the Blues are open to offers for the 28-year-old, who has endured a miserable time following his arrival in the summer of 2019.

It has been more than a year since Downing last featured in League One action, with the defender solely given cup outings during that period.

He had started the 2020-21 campaign partnering Raggett in the Carabao Cup visit to Stevenage.

However, following the penalty shoot-out victory, he was replaced by Whatmough – who has subsequently produced three successive man of the match performances.

At one stage, James Bolton was preferred to Downing on the bench as centre-half back up, representing another setback.

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However, with Bolton starting at right-back against Brighton in the Carabao Cup and then carrying a knock for the trip to Rochdale, Downing returned among the substitutes.

Regardless, Jackett has three defenders – plus Bolton – ahead of the former Blackburn Rovers man, who is contracted until the summer of 2022.

If Downing cannot be moved on ahead of the October 16 closure of the transfer window, an alternative solution could be for Jackett not to register him in his 22-man squad.

That would create another space, with numbers presently at 21 following Nicolaisen’s arrival.

However, even if Downing is not registered, the Blues must continue paying his wages as a contracted player.

In total, he has made 16 appearances since recruited on a free transfer in June 2019.

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