Pompey started the season with two points from their first two League One outings, but have dropped into the relegation zone after losing five of their last six matches. The 3-0 win at Crawley seems to be an anomaly, as it was followed by three defeats.
Their head of recruitment Luke Dowling had a forward lined up to join on loan from a Premier League club, but the move has fallen through as the club cannot commit to a contract for as long as the player wanted.
"A Premier League striker we spoke to was prepared to come here because he wasn't in the 25-man squad at his parent club," Dowling told the Chichester Observer.
"Unfortunately, though, we can't do a loan until the January window, which is what he wanted. We are only working a month at a time. So now we are just waiting on two managers to come back to us regarding a striker from each club.
"They are both playing in this league and one of them has Championship experience. One of the managers is just waiting to make sure he gets his strikers back fit, which will allow us to take one of his on loan.
"The other played in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday. We will get there and I'm sure we'll get one in for Saturday at least."