"We've got to make sure" - Demand issued over Portsmouth FC star Colby Bishop | OneFootball

FLW's Portsmouth fan pundit feels extending this player's contract is imperative no matter what division they'll be in next season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

One of the bigger names whose contract expires at the end of the season is Portsmouth striker Colby Bishop.

The 28-year-old has been prolific in front of goal ever since joining Pompey from Accrington Stanley in 2022, netting 41 goals in a couple of League One seasons at Fratton Park, 21 of which came in their promotion season in 2024/25.

Despite heart surgery ruling him out for the opening three months of this season, Bishop's first season in the second tier has proven that his goals can translate into the step above, netting five so far this campaign.

Understandably, there has been plenty of transfer talk surrounding Bishop already this season, with the forward's contract running out in the upcoming summer - talk that Bishop has shot down in the past few weeks.

However, with the Portsmouth striker entering the prime years of his career, it's expected that he will want to continue to play in the Championship beyond this season, which may prove an issue if Pompey were to go down.

Football League World therefore asked our Portsmouth fan pundit Miltos Ioannidis what the best-case scenario for Bishop would be if relegation became a reality.

Portsmouth fan pundit positive ahead of potential contract talks

Miltos said: "I don't think we will be relegated and Bishop himself came out of the Cardiff game extremely confident that we won't either. But if we do, then what will happen to him?

"Colby Bishop loves Portsmouth but if we were to be relegated there would be a lot of Championship clubs who will be interested and Bishop will want to test himself at the highest level he can play.

"I think the biggest thing we need to look at is extending his contract either way as it is expiring at the end of the season. Whether or not we are a Championship club in 2025/26, we've got to make sure he's under contract, and I'm quite certain that there will be talks at some stage.

"Hopefully the talks happen soon, and hopefully he remains a Portsmouth player come next season."

Pompey should be confident in extending Bishop

Despite a new contract not yet materialising for Bishop, Portsmouth should feel confident in being able to tie the 28-year-old down for at least a few more seasons.

After netting his 50th goal for the club in Tuesday's win over Cardiff, Bishop declared his love for the club - according to the Portsmouth News.

Additionally, despite Bishop's contract running out in the summer, Pompey does have the option to extend his current deal by 12 months, so the chances of him remaining at Fratton Park beyond this season are quite likely.

Portsmouth currently sits four points ahead of the drop zone in 18th, and there is real confidence that if last season's League One champions can remain outside the bottom three, they'll be able to keep their talisman for seasons to come.