Harry Redknapp knows the tricks of the trade. After having a £9million bid for Peter Crouch turned down by Liverpool last week, the Portsmouth manager gave every sign that they would look elsewhere for quality players ahead of next season.

However, Pompey haven’t given up on the striker by a long chalk, with the Portsmouth News reporting that the England international remains firmly in demand at Fratton Park. According to Peter Storrie, the club’s chief executive, just because the parties haven’t agreed a fee doesn’t mean this is a dead duck. Hope springs eternal for Gareth Barry then!

“Harry has made it clear he wants Peter Crouch. He’s the sort of quality we want to add to the team.

“We have made a fair bid for him and that was turned down but we are still interested.

“It’s now the case that we have made known our position and Liverpool have made know theirs - we will see what happens after that.

“This is not the end of it. As in normal transfer negotiations there is still more talking to be done. That’s how it works.

“We are not going to be giving up. Harry sees him as an important player and we will try to bring him to Fratton Park.

“At the moment both myself and Harry are away so there is nothing happening, we will see what the situation is after this week.

“But nothing will be happening with Peter’s future in the meantime, either. It’s a quiet time for transfers.

“We are still interested, he’s a quality player.”

It sounds as though the forward will be playing football for Portsmouth next season. Eventually, Liverpool are going to need some readies, especially if they continue in their pursuit of Gareth Barry. Is it fair to suppose that Pompey will land Crouch for £10million, which might well be officially described as ‘an undisclosed fee’? Or will Rafa demand closer to £15million?