Portsmouth want to sell players before transfer window opens

Financially stricken Pompey said in a statement that they are 'exploring the possibility' as to whether they can have special dispensation to sell players to ease their money woes.

The brief statement from a spokesman said: "I can confirm we have put in a request to the Premier League to sell players outside the transfer window. It is something we are exploring."

Yesterday, the club submitted a statement of affairs to the High Court in London, which will rule on March 1 whether or not to liquidate the top flight's basement club.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that the Fratton Park outfit is hoping to sell Nadir Belhadj, Kevin Prince Boateng and Marc Wilson to free up cash to pay wages.

The club has failed to pay wages on time on four separate occasions this season.

During last month's transfer window, Portsmouth only sold two players - Younes Kaboul to Tottenham Hotspur and Asmir Begovic to Stoke City.

If the Premier League and FIFA were to allow special dispensation, the players would not be allowed to play for their new clubs before the end of the season.

Pompey owe the HMRC an outstanding tax bill of £11.5m.

As a result, the taxman issued a winding up order, which could see Portsmouth cease to exist - an outcome they narrowly avoided last week.

It is not known how the admission by the club about wishing to sell players will affect insolvency proceedings.