As one door closes, another one opens for Pompey, who are becoming renowned for signing players that are surplus to requirements at other Premier League clubs. Although Portsmouth fans will be disappointed to see Sulley Muntari leave Inter this summer, the £11 million that the club receive for the midfielder will be enough to land an England international with quality in abundance.

The Guardian report that Harry Redknapp will almost certainly make a bid for Shaun Wright-Phillips, possibly landing one of the bargains of the close season as a result. The winger has been woefully under-used since signing for the Blues at the cost of £23 million, and will have a great chance of resurrecting his career at Fratton Park.

Part of the fee Portsmouth receive from Inter will go to Udinese as part of a sell-on agreement but enough will be left to make a more than viable offer for Wright-Phillips, who is with Chelsea on their tour of the Far East but could be tempted to leave the club having been on the fringes since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Manchester City for £21m in 2005. Aston Villa are also said to be interested in the 26-year-old.

Any reluctance the new Chelsea manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, may have regarding losing Wright-Phillips will be eased by the knowledge that it seems all but certain he will retain Lampard for the coming season at least.

Surely the Pompey fans would be delighted to see SWP come in, especially if he can recreate the form that made him such a hot property at Manchester City. He can be guaranteed first-team football by Redknapp and strut his stuff once again in the Premier League.

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