Portsmouth are set to beat League One side Peterborough United to the signing of a 21-year-old forward from St Johnstone.
With the transfer window nearing its end, Pompey are looking to improve their side after making a promising start to their Championship season. They are currently 8th in the table, with two wins, one draw, and one defeat.
One player is set to be announced by the club after his current manager confirmed he would be departing the club. Makenzie Kirk, who plays in the Scottish Championship with St Johnstone, will make the move South of the border before the window closes.
Makenzie Kirk to Join Portsmouth
Speaking to the media after his side drew 1-1 with Greenock Morton, Simo Valakari confirmed that Kirk will be joining Portsmouth. Valakari said:
“Makenzie will travel down south tomorrow for a medical. It pretty much looks like he will move on.
“You can always want more, but you have to be realistic, this was a very good deal for us and a very good deal for the player.
“It’s a good deal for Portsmouth as well.”
Portsmouth and League One side Peterborough United both had offers accepted, but the update from Valakari confirms that it’s the Championship side who have won the battle for him.
What Do We Know About Kirk?
Kirk was St Johnstone’s top scorer last season in the Scottish Premiership. In a side that finished bottom of the league, he scored eight goals and received an average Sofascore rating of 6.84.
The Northern Ireland U21 player finished the season with 1.4 shots per game, 0.7 shots on target per game, and a goal conversion of 17%.
The forward only joined the club last summer from Hearts but became an instant hit at St Johnstone.
Speaking after their recent game, Valakari discussed Kirk’s ability and how exciting this move is for the player:
“Strikers who scored goals are a rare breed, and Makenzie is one of them. Last year, he scored 11 goals in a struggling team.
“I can see why a big club has taken this chance on him. We all hope it will work out. This is his chance to prove himself in an exciting league, and we wish him all the best. We were very happy to have him for this short time.”
Is This a Good Move for Kirk?
It’s going to be a challenging move for Kirk. He came up against some good teams in Scotland last season, but the Championship is arguably one of the toughest leagues in the world. He’ll need to quickly adapt, but a player of his ability should be able to easily do that.
Kirk will be learning from an experienced striker. 28-year-old Cody Bishop has led the line this season for Portsmouth, and he’s an experienced forward who can teach Kirk a lot.
It will be an interesting first game for Kirk as Portsmouth travel to local rivals Southampton in the league.