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Portsmouth should look to sign out-of-favour forward Delano Burgzorg from Middlesbrough this summer

Portsmouth, despite one of the smallest budgets in the Championship, have secured their place in the second tier once again. Pompey supporters will be desperate to see larger investments being made in their playing squad ahead of the summer transfer window.

Another year of success for Portsmouth, with the South Coast outfit confirming their place in the Championship for another year with a few games to spare.

John Mousinho has done a superb job at Fratton Park, in what remains his first role in senior management since retiring as a player, guiding the club from League One to back-to-back survivals in the second tier despite his lack of resources.

Indeed, as the January transfer window rolled around, the likes of Jacob Brown and Millenic Alli were brought in on loan from League One Luton Town, whilst Paraguayan winger Gustavo Caballero joined on loan from Brazilian outfit Santos.

Each played a big part in their survival, but improvements are an absolute must this summer to ensure they don't slip back.

Attacking midfielder Adrian Segicic finished as Portsmouth's top scorer with 11 in the league, followed by right-back Terry Devlin on five, as their main centre-forward, Colby Bishop, could only manage three all campaign.

Mousinho must address this as soon as possible, and should do so by making a move for a forward seemingly out of favour at Middlesbrough.

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Portsmouth were among the lowest-scoring sides in the Championship last season, and at one stage looked set to join Sheffield Wednesday in League One next campaign.

However, a run of just one defeat in their final eight games, including important victories over the likes of Boro, Ipswich Town, and Leicester, kept them afloat, with an Adrian Segicic hat-trick away in a 3-1 victory against Stoke City boosting their goal tally in the penultimate game of the year.

Despite this, Mousinho will be well aware of his requirement to boost his attacking options heading into next season, especially with each of Brown, Alli, and Caballero returning to their parent clubs.

Bishop's goal return of just three was severely underwhelming, and could have been even more damaging had Segecic not stepped up to the fore, with the 29-year-old hitting eight fewer than the campaign prior despite playing ten more games this time around.

If Pompey are to progress next year, a new centre-forward option must be a priority, and they could do a lot worse than Middlesbrough's Delano Burgzorg.

Burgzorg, 27, spent the second half of the campaign on loan with Bristol City from Middlesbrough, having fallen out of favour at the Riverside under Kim Hellberg, and upon his return this summer, could be facing the exit door permanently.

The Surinamese managed just two goals and three assists in 25 appearances for Boro in the first half of the season, and then just one goal and one assist in 15 whilst on loan at Ashton Gate.

Having first made the move to England with Huddersfield Town back in 2023, Burgzorg has made over a century of Championship appearances, and now, entering what ought to be his prime years, could be a real coup for Pompey.

His goal return isn't the most inspiring, but capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, he could be a real asset for Mousinho's side, and with his Boro future in doubt, he probably won't command a huge fee.

With the Eisner ownership at Pompey not one to splash the cash too often, Burgzorg would fit in with their current recruitment strategy, and as another option in their forward line, they could do a lot worse.

Burgzorg could be prolific in the right system as the main man, and Portsmouth should provide him with the opportunity to prove his worth in a deal that has plenty more upside than downside.

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Without question, if Portsmouth have any ambition of progressing next season, they must be more ambitious in the transfer market.

The Eisner ownership has come under widespread criticism by Pompey supporters for their lack of funding, and given they were loaning in players from League One during the January window when they were in a relegation battle, it's fair to suggest their feelings are valid.

Pompey cannot afford to find themselves in a familiar relegation battle year after year, and more investment in the squad is a requirement if they want to avoid the drop.

Whilst Burgzorg's addition won't break the bank by any means, the 27-year-old would add experience and quality that is currently lacking in their forward line, and should be a player heavily considered with the summer transfer window officially underway.