Portsmouth FC is targeting a key transfer to boost their Championship hopes as the transfer window opens. The club's priority is to strengthen their striking options after a disappointing season. With just five league goals between four players last term, Portsmouth FC were the sixth-lowest scorers in the Championship. The club's sporting director, Rich Hughes, and his recruitment team are scouring Europe for a new first-choice striker. The search is taking them abroad, with value for money and player potential being highly important pre-requisites. The club's head coach, John Mousinho, continues to favour employing a lone centre-forward, which could relegate Colby Bishop to a back-up role. Despite his scoring struggles, Bishop remained Mousinho's most effective option last term. However, there are concerns whether he can reignite his goal touch at Championship level. The club's reliance on Bishop was a damning reflection on the lack of alternative replacements available to Fratton Park's head coach. St Johnstone recruit Makenzie Kirk fell out of favour as the season progressed, featuring just three times in all competitions. Thomas Waddingham missed six months of the season through a thigh injury sustained in training in September 2025. Jacob Brown's deadline day recruitment didn't come off, with Mousinho seemingly having little faith in the Luton loanee.