Former Pompey target Jesper Ceesay could be available on a free transfer by the end of month.

The midfielder, whose €800,000 move from Antalyaspor to the Blues fell through in August due to visa issues, could find himself in a position where he can sign for a new club for nothing after notifying his current employers over unpaid wages.

Along with team-mates Dario Saric and Kenneth Paal, the Gambia international has written a formal letter to Antalyaspor demanding payment of monies owed.

Club president Mustafa Ergun has admitted player wages have not been paid in months.

In return, he and the recently-relegated Turkish Super Lig outfit have requested that the trio, plus all other players who have not sent demands for payment, wait until the end of November to receive their remittance.

But if the club are unable to settle the latest financial crisis that is putting their future in serious doubt, Ceesay & Co will be free to terminate their contracts and walk away from the troubled club.

At present, the Sweden-born defensive midfielder is under contract with the Corendon Airlines Park outfit until the summer of 2028.

Why Jesper Ceesay wasn’t allowed to join Pompey

Ceesay has featured six times for Antalyaspor since his proposed move to Fratton Park fell through at the last minute.

He was high up Pompey’s wanted list as they looked to bolster their midfield options for their latest Championship campaign.

After weeks of haggling with their Turkish counterparts, who are under a transfer embargo and have four active dispute files open with FIFA, an agreement was finally struck in early August for his transfer.

However, the 25-year-old was denied the move after a change in the Home Office and Football Association’s eligibility criteria for overseas players.

Pompey launched an appeal over that outcome, but those efforts were rebuffed, forcing the club to look elsewhere to bolster their midfield ranks.

Iyad Mohamed subsequently moved to Fratton Park from Casa Pio for a deal in the region of €300,000, with the Comoros international featuring nine times for John Mousinho’s side since, including six starts.

As for Ceesay, he remained at Antalyaspor despite reported interest in him from elsewhere.

But with Antalyaspor in all sorts of financial trouble - the club’s electricity was recently cut off due to unpaid bills - how long he remains an Akrepler player remains to be seen.

The next couple of weeks will reveal all!