Portsmouth are confident of having their transfer embargo lifted for the January market.

The ban on signings has been in place since mid-October and Portsmouth's manager, Avram Grant, wakes this morning - just 48 hours before the transfer window opens - not knowing if he can strengthen a squad which is bottom of the Premier League and four points from safety.

Jacob, a lawyer who acts for Portsmouth's owner, Ali al-Faraj, is confident the debts will be paid in the coming days, which would indicate that the club expect to sell players almost as soon as the window opens.

"I hope it will get lifted next week," he told the Guardian of the ban.

"We haven't had the benefit of a transfer window. As soon as we have the benefit then it will be an opportunity for Avram to start doing some trade."