Fa Cup-winning manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he is looking to sign Reading’s England international left-back.

Nicky Shorey, who won his first England cap against Brazil last year, is high on Pompey’s shopping list and, following Reading’s relegation to the Championship, could be close to a cut-price move to Fratton Park.

The move would be good for both sides. Pompey look to expand a squad that’s left with 3 players and a ball-boy whenever African international matches are played. Whereas, Shorey can get back in a successful team and perhaps push into Fabio Capello’s England squads. Redknapp told the Reading Evening Post:

Shorey is a player I like. He’s a good player and a good footballer. We’re looking for players who would give us something a bit different and he would do that.

Shorey was linked to Newcastle and West Ham last season, with Reading turning down a bid from the latter, but following the Royals relegation, the 27-year-old’s wages are likely to lead to his reluctant departure.

Pompey prepare for their first ever season in Europe and Harry Redknapp knows he needs a larger squad capable of challenging for honours:

He would give us something different to Hermann (Hreidarsson). Having said that, Hermann did a fantastic job for us and was brilliant for me. But we are going to need a squad and we are going to need cover.

We are going to be playing more games than ever next season and it’s going to be a lot tougher for us.

It’s all very well claiming a goal if it gets deflected into the net by a defender, but Pompey’s Hermann Hreidarsson is taking things too far by claiming his team’s winner against Preston. The official Portsmouth site reports that the Icelander thinks he should be awarded for the goal, despite appearing to handle the ball and then seeing Preston’s Darren Carter lash the ball into his own net.

“I’m claiming that goal.

“Their player tried to clear it and kicked the ball into the roof of the net, but it was already going in. It’s definitely mine.

“The ball came into the area and hit my thigh and arm. But it was ball to arm, not arm to ball. There was no intent.”

Hermann might want to consider that while the ball was heading towards goal, there was a Preston man on the line ready to clear until Carter intervened with his howler under pressure. Indeed, it would have been no great surprise to see the referee blow for a PNE free-kick due to Hreidarsson’s alleged handball. COS thinks this isn’t even one for the dubious goals panel!

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