The critical factor which is going to decide Portsmouth’s deadline day activity

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Pompey are now right at the limit of their £2.5m wage cap.

And that is likely to ensure a quiet final day of the transfer window for the Blues.

Tomorrow sees the transfer window close at 11pm for the rest of the season, as clubs rush to complete shaping their squads.

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But Kenny Jackett has got his business done early recruiting four new faces in the shape of Charlie Daniels, Harvey White, George Byers and Lewis Ward.

In the latest Pompey Talk, which you can download HERE, Blues writer Jordan Cross states the club are now at the ceiling for wages.

That was seen last week with some keepers who were interesting the club not being pursued, as their signings would have exceeded the cap.

The only option now would be for Pompey not to name one of their first-team players and effectively dump them to bring in an alternative, which looks unlikely.

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Or they could bring in a youngster under the age of 21, whose earnings wouldn’t count towards the ceiling.

Hopes are high for new boy George ByersHopes are high for new boy George Byers
Hopes are high for new boy George Byers

Cross feels that all points to a quiet final day of transfer activity at Fratton Park.

He said: ‘The business this month is looking good.

‘But I get the vibe that Portsmouth are now right at the limit of the wage cap.

‘I think the keeper was one who fitted the bill in terms of experience and crucially wages to get in on a loan until the end of the season, so that’s who Kenny Jackett opted for.

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‘Kenny’s looked at Turnbull and Seymour and they aren't ready. They are seen as ones for the future, but the Peterborough game showed they palpably aren't ready to be thrown in for a League One promotion battle.

‘Kenny needed to cover himself and his prerequisite with what wages were available was to get experience in. I can see why he did that - It makes sense.’

Cross feels Pompey have conducted good business this month, covering the losses of Cam Pring and Bryn Morris with Charlie Daniels and Harvey White coming in while adding an experienced keeper to cover for Alex Bass.

But it’s George Byers coming in from Swansea who Cross believes can add another dimension to Jackett’s side.

He added: ‘They’ve addressed the key areas.

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‘The one I like is Byers. I feel he’s the one who could really make a difference.

‘Obviously, Charlie Daniels has excited supporters because he’s got relatively recent Premier League experience and he’s coming into play.

‘But Byers is the one, when you look at the amount of Championship football he’s picked up and the way he’s respected clearly by everyone at Swansea.

‘He’s the one, probably like Andy Cannon, who Pompey really needed, a player to link defence and attack.

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‘I won’t say Ben Thompson, but he can really be a driving force. He’s that type of player.

‘I’m putting my eggs in his basket that he can come in and really make an impact over the second half of the season.’

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