Pompey close in on new striker

The 26-year-old striker left Oxford United at the end of the season but is on Guy Whittingham’s hit list as he continues to build a squad for League Two next term.

Regarded as a natural finisher and a clever forward, Craddock scored 28 goals in 72 appearances in three seasons at the Kassam Stadium.

After recovering from a knee injury which hampered his progress in the 2011-12 campaign, the former Middlesbrough trainee netted 12 goals in 38 appearances last term, including four in one game in a 5-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

While Whittingham was understandably coy on his transfer policy, he did confirm that Craddock was among a number of targets he is attempting to sign.

The Blues boss said: ‘Tom Craddock is one of many.

‘He is not signing at this moment in time, but we will wait and see.’

It’s been a fruitful week for Pompey after bringing in Hull City duo Danny East, Sonny Bradley and French midfielder Romain Padovani.

And Whittingham is hopeful there will be early movement next week if players are attracted by the project on offer at Fratton Park.

He said: ‘Like all things, we can go as far as we can go, so it is up to the players then whether they want to come here or not.

‘Financially we cannot cope with some of the teams in this league and certainly the league above. But what we can offer them is a big crowd who will get behind them if they just put everything they have got into it.

‘They don’t even have to play well. If they run around and work their socks off they will be backed here and that is something we can offer them – and to be part of a rebuilding process that hopefully get this club back up the league.’