This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Portsmouth have confirmed the loan signing of Coventry City striker Tyler Walker, as confirmed on the League One club's website.
Pompey's hunt for a striker has been quite common knowledge, with Danny Cowley revealing his efforts in trying to secure a suitable number nine.
Walker has predominantly been deployed from the bench this season at the Coventry Building Society Arena, with the 25-year-old finding it difficult to cement a regular starting spot.
Walker's last spell in League One came during the 2019/20 campaign with Lincoln, a season where the forward netted 14 times in half a season with the Imps.
Three of our writers have shared their thoughts regarding this done deal...
Alfie Burns
I like the look of this deal.
It’s not quite happened for Walker at Coventry, although I do feel like he hasn’t quite had as many opportunities as he should have done to lead the line.
Looking back at his last League One campaign with Lincoln City, he struck 14 times in 29 games. That’s a really good ratio and tells us that he’s a player that can, undoubtedly, be prolific in the third-tier.
Portsmouth, then, are getting their hands on a player with a bit of a point to prove to Coventry, as well as someone that they should be able to rely on for goals.
It feels like a really good piece of business.
Toby Wilding
This does look as though it could be a smart piece of business for Portsmouth.
Pompey's attacking options have dropped significantly already during this transfer window, following the departures of Ellis Harrison and John Marquis in the past couple of weeks.
As a result, adding another attacker to their ranks does feel as though it could be rather important for the club to bring in some extra firepower to their ranks.
Walker is someone who can certainly offer that at League One level, having scored 14 goals and provided three assists in 29 league games for Lincoln in the division back in the 2019/20, and after a frustrating campaign with Coventry, this could be a move that helps him kick-start his own career again, meaning this could be one that works well all round.
Declan Harte
Portsmouth are in desperate need of a goal scorer.
A lack of goals has been a huge problem for Pompey this season and is the main reason that Cowley’s side aren’t challenging for an automatic promotion place this campaign.
Signing Walker from Coventry could go some way to solving their issue of goals.
The striker has proven himself at League One level as a capable goal getter, having scored 14 for Lincoln City in half a season, under Cowley, in 2019-20.
Re-uniting Walker with his former manager might also help him re-find his form after struggling for starts in the Championship with Coventry City.