Pompey close in on striker

The Swindon striker is one of the top targets Paul Cook is aiming to land today.

Cook is working on a number of options, with the 24-year-old understood to be a priority.

A loan move for the 24-year-old is in the offing, with the Blues boss a big fan of the Wallsend-born striker.

Smith had a temporary stint at Barnsley this season where he failed to score in 13 appearances – nine of those coming off the bench.

He bagged 18 goals for Swindon in League One last term, however, and the same figure the previous campaign for the Robins and AFC Wimbledon.

Cook first spoke of his admiration for Smith in The News last August.

He said then: ‘If you look at the striker at Swindon for example, Michael Smith, he had a couple of poor loans early on. But he’s a player.

‘These are the ones you need to be on. We need to be on to them as quickly as possible.’

The transfer window closes tonight at 11pm before the loan window opens later this month.