Portsmouth are hoping to sign Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence on an emergency loan after a permanent deal was scuppered.
Lawrence's deadline day move to Fratton Park was rejected by the Football League because vital paperwork was not submitted by the 6pm cut off on deadline day.
The 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international had been all set to make the south coast switch along with striker Dave Kitson, while defender Marc Wilson went in the other direction.
The loan move will have to be authorised by the league.
Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes told the club website: "It is important that we work to find an expedient solution.
"The aim now is to ensure we arrive at the same point for both clubs and, most importantly, for the player who had made up his mind to join Portsmouth.
"That will probably take the form of a loan move until the end of the year and then Liam would finalise his permanent move to Fratton Park in the January window."