Portsmouth can find Colby Bishop alternative in ex-West Brom striker | OneFootball

Portsmouth should be targeting a move for a former West Brom striker that has recently become a free agent after a frustrating few years.

Portsmouth will be looking to avoid being in a relegation fight in the Championship next season, in what should be a hugely entertaining campaign ahead.

Pompey finished 18th in the second-tier standings, and kept themselves clear of the bottom-three heading into the final few weeks after winning three of their last five matches of the 2025/26 season.

They're set for their third successive year in the Championship, where they've finished 16th and 18th respectively. It's a competitive division next season, and Portsmouth will know that they simply have to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window.

If they opt not to add to their squad, then it wouldn't be at all surprising to see them in and around the relegation zone for the majority of the 2026/27 campaign.

In previous seasons before the 2025/26 season, Portsmouth were heavily reliant on the goals of Colby Bishop, who finished as the club's top goalscorer in the 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 campaign.

However, he struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis in last year's campaign, which saw Pompey looking nervously over their shoulders in the battle to survive.

Only five other teams in the Championship scored less goals than John Mousinho's side, who scored just 49 goals across the whole season.

Former West Brom man should be eyed by Portsmouth

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With Bishop's slight dip in form last season, and Portsmouth's struggles in front of goal, it would make complete sense for the club to target a new striker as an alternative option to Bishop.

A player that could be the ideal candidate to do just that is former American international, Daryl Dike, who is set to leave West Brom when his contract reaches a conclusion at the end of June.

Dike is a player that fits the profile of a striker that Portsmouth need, as he's a player that can hold the ball up well, bringing team-mates into attacks, whilst also having a good eye for goal.

The forward has shown glimpses of his quality in English football, after moving to West Brom back in 2022 from Orlando City, after originally impressing in a loan spell with Barnsley at Oakwell.

An Achilles tendon injury saw him miss the majority of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 season, which is a huge shame, as Dike had previously shown his quality for the Baggies in the Championship.

It should be a no-brainer for Pompey this summer

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There isn't enough goals in this Portsmouth team, and so it should be a no-brainer for the club to target a deal for a new striker ahead of pre-season.

Signing a player with Dike's injury record is an obvious concern, but considering any agreement will be on a free transfer, Portsmouth would be foolish to pass up on a player of his quality.

It comes with an element of risk with his injuries in the last few years, but they could even offer Dike a short-term contract to see how he would cope with life in Portsmouth.

Dike scored on a regular basis with Barnsley when they were playing their football in the Championship, which was Dike's first experience of the physical demands of English football.

He's still only 26, and if he can stay clear of injuries, then he'd be a smart pickup for any interested parties this summer. Colby Bishop might not be replaced by Dike, but it would be useful to have a player of his quality in their ranks moving forwards, as competition for places isn't necessarily a bad thing heading into the new season.