My how things can change in just one week! If you recall, last week Pompey boss Harry Redknapp made it clear to anyone willing to listen that his £6m offer for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch was as high as he was willing to go. He wasn’t going to be dragged through the mud for a lanky Crouchigol robot!

Well seven days later it appears that Redknapp is still a man of his word. He’s still not going to pay more than…oh…wait…apparently Redknapp isn’t afraid of the mud after all! The Daily Mirror reports that Harry found another four million quid in his seat cushion that he’d like to add to a FINAL bid (if you really believe him now) for the Liverpool man.

Portsmouth will make a final £10m bid for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch. (Daily Mirror)

Judging by the big names Rafa has on his wish list, it would seem to be in the goateed-one’s best interest to make sure this deal got done. Nobody with a brain is going to pay the £15m valuation for Crouch, so why not get the most for him now and use some of it to finalize a deal for Gareth Barry. Now THAT would make sense!

Are Liverpool supporters fine seeing Crouch leave for £10m? Do you think he’s really worth his £15m pricetag?

Harry Redknapp knows the tricks of the trade. After having a £9million bid [Read the rest of this entry »]

Even Harry Redknapp admitted that it might be a leetle bit tricky to keep hold of [Read the rest of this entry »]

Harry Redknapp has done brilliantly in the transfer market over the past few seasons. Landing the likes of James, Campbell, Defoe and Diarra have been a coup and it looks like [Read the rest of this entry »]

The credit crunch is biting everywhere, including Anfield it appears. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Harry Redknapp is well-known for his wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, and looks to have landed a cut-price bargain from Reading this week. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Harry Redknapp is just about to pounce in the transfer market by the looks of things [Read the rest of this entry »]

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has thrown a warning shot in the direction of chief executive Peter Storrie, showing that he means business this summer. Storrie has admitted that Redknapp is planning on an ambitious summer campaign that is calling for Pompey to add five new signings this summer – with three of the signings being top quality talent.

The Daily Star reports that Redknapp is interested in adding Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira to the squad this summer, almost certainly meaning he is one of his three top quality players required for a strong UEFA Cup campaign.

Portsmouth are set to launch a £4m bid for Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira. (Daily Star)

Reports are coming out of Milan that Vieira could still be looking for wages in the area of £100,000 a week – a number that Redknapp surely wouldn’t spend on the 32-year-old Frenchman. Maybe that explains with the fee for Vieira is considerably lower than you’d expect.

Would Pompey supporters welcome a move for Vieira? Do you still consider him a top talent? Or would you rather see the club chase a younger set of legs for £4m?

We all know that most footballers have a taste for the booze, especially when their season has finished and they don’t have to report for training on the Monday. However, it appears that four members of the Portsmouth squad didn’t know when to stop after their team won the FA Cup final, according to the Daily Mail. They report that Harry Redknapp is not best pleased with the unnamed quartet who apparently drunk the bar dry despite not playing any part in the Wembley final itself.

“These four lads didn’t play in the final,” said Redknapp, “but they couldn’t even put their beer down on the bus.

“We got back for the reception and the four of them just stood there until they were invited to go home.

“They’re players at my club but they might not be for much longer.”

Goodness, chill out Harry, it’s not as though they started hitting each other with golf clubs or urinated on the bar, as has been the way when footballers have got together in the past. It’s probable that we’re talking about a bunch of youngsters who were set to be released anyhow.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is looking to add a bit of pace to his FA Cup-winning squad, and he’s hoping that Chelsea might in be in the mood to take a loss on their investment by selling off winger Shaun Wright-Phillips for half the cost.

The Sun is reporting that Redknapp would like to bring in Wright-Phillips to Pompey for £10m, and hopes Chelsea don’t mind losing £11m for the winger after he was bought three years ago from Man City for £21m. However, judging by the way Roman Abramovich has been throwing away money recently — £2m to The Special One for a Ferrari, and £5m to make ‘Average’ Grant go away — the thought of him giving Pompey a decent price for SWP doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp wants to capitalise on his side’s FA Cup success by strengthening his squad. And he believes he can persuade Chelsea to take a loss on out-of-favour Wright-Phillips. (The Sun)

Judging by how little Wright-Phillips was used at Chelsea, would this even be a good investment for Pompey? Or would Harry and his FA Cup be better off spending the £10m on a player that has actually done something in the past year?

Many people were surprised when Lassana Diarra’s frustration got the better of him in January, causing the midfielder to leave Arsenal and sign for Portsmouth where he was almost certainly guaranteed first-team football. Despite the best efforts of Harry Redknapp to massage the Frenchman’s ego at every available turn, it appears as though the player will be moving on again in the summer, although Arsene Wenger claims he only left the Emirates in a fit of panic and might have been a touch hasty to do so. Sporting Life reveals all:

“I came to the conclusion that Diarra could not cope with the fact that he was behind the other players here in midfield,” said the Gunners boss.

“I thought the best option was to let him go because I already had Denilson, [Abou] Diaby and Gilberto all trying to get into the team as well. It was a congestion.

“I bought Diarra in the summer because I thought Flamini might leave at the end of the season and if he was able to be patient, he would get his chance.

“It turned out he wasn’t capable of that. With Euro 2008 in mind, he panicked.

“I did explain when he joined that he might have to be patient, and he acknowledged it, but he couldn’t cope with the situation, and also did not want to go on loan anywhere either.”

Therefore, all those people who said Wenger made a mistake by not keeping hold of Diarra can now realise that the Arsenal manager was pretty much powerless when it came to keeping the diminutive midfielder. It’s interesting that Le Boss expected Flamini to shove off in the summer – do you think he’s regretting the release of Diarra considering his performances for Pompey in 2008?

Not content with snapping up the exciting Luka Modric for £16.5million, Tottenham are looking to bolster their midfield further by adding the Premier League journeyman Lassana Diarra to their ranks. The midfielder has already been on the books at Chelsea and Arsenal, before joining Portsmouth during the January transfer window. Many have suggested that if the player had stayed at the Emirates, they may have put up more of a title challenge.

The Guardian report that Spurs have been sniffing around Diarra for some time, while let’s remind you of the player’s loyal words upon joining Portsmouth.

“The people at Portsmouth know that I will not spend my life at the club,” said Diarra after completing his £5.5m move in January. “I was able to add a clause to my contract. If I shine, if a really big club wants me, I already know that everything will go well. I don’t want any more battles.”

The wheeler-dealer that is Harry Redknapp won’t led the midfielder leave without making a decent profit from the sale, that’s for sure. Diarra’s last efforts in a Pompey shirt might be helping them secure the FA Cup before flying the nest to join his fourth Premier League club in the space of a year. If Pot Noodle is the slag of all snacks, what does that make Lassana Diarra?

Watch Tottenham live online

Watch Chelsea live online

Kevin Keegan came out after Newcastle’s 0-2 loss to Chelsea and said that he could not turn the Toon into a Big Four team again within the three years his contract lasts for. Such talk has landed him in hot water with owner Mike Ashley, who has called him down to London for “crisis talks” today.

Since his emotional outburst though, it turns out that Portsmouth Manager Harry Redknapp and Reading manager Steve Coppell both actually agree with him, with Harry quoted as saying:

“You would need £150million to spend to have any chance of breaking into that top four, Look at Liverpool last summer, they spent £28million on Fernando Torres and he is a fantastic player but who else can compete with that?
I agree with Kevin Keegan, I do not see any way that anyone else can break into the top four. Tottenham came closest for a few seasons but if you look at them now they have fallen back into mid-table. Nothing is guaranteed by spending money and it is getting harder and harder to get there.”

And Coppell today saying:

“I have been saying that for a long time. At the start of the season you know within four teams definitely, probably within three and most betting people would say within two teams who is going to win the league, I contradict myself by saying it is brilliant to watch these teams do well in Europe but they have too much of an advantage on a week-to-week basis for it to be a really competitive league.
There are sub-divisions within the league that are competitive but in terms of winning the division you know who is going to do that at the start of each year.”

Are they right? Is the Premier League boring or just predictable? Should the Top Four be booted into an Elite Euro League? Should the Champion’s League rules be changed? Surely something needs to change or the fans will vote with their feet.

Watch Newcastle live online

Watch Portsmouth live online

Should your team be bidding for Peter Crouch this summer? It’s clear that if the former QPR hitman gets a regular run of games for most Premier League clubs, he’ll score a fair few, both on the floor and in the air. It’s just a shame that Liverpool FC manager Rafael Benitez seems intent on persisting with a formation that includes just one forward, and that Crouch has to compete with the goal machine that is Fernando Torres.

While there’s been a whole heap of speculation surrounding Crouch all season, most of which has been rebuffed by the striker, it now appears as though the talented forward is moving to pastures new. Sky Sports report that Rafael Benitez has slapped a £15million price tag on his head (after getting a ladder out to reach that far), which is the equivalent of one-and-a-half Gareth Barry’s if Liverpool’s economics are anything to go by.

“Crouch wants to play every week but knows he must fight it out with Fernando Torres,” Benitez said.

“We keep seeing Portsmouth linked with the player but we have had no offer as yet.

“A £15m price tag would not be unreasonable.”

Which is basically the Spaniard’s way of saying ’show me the money’ to potential buyers. Harry Redknapp is clearly a fan of Crouchaldinho, having been his manager when the pair were at Southampton. Will there be a little and large act at Pompey next season, with Crouch and Defoe wreaking havoc amongst opposition defences?

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Portsmouth live online

Live Football direct links

After all, his team looked pretty pretty shabby against Middlesbrough on Saturday, another team who looked like they needed the points more than Pompey. Sky Sports reports that Harry Redknapp is adamant that his team aren’t going to go through the motions against Fulham, alhough exactly how heartening that is for fans of Birmingham and Reading remains to be seen.

Redknapp told Sky Sports: “I will field a full strength side as I owe that to other people in a relegation battle.

“I wouldn’t do that – it is not fair, I wouldn’t want someone to do that to me so I won’t be doing that.

“It will be a tough game against Fulham. I know some people say you have to look after yourself maybe, and if I get injuries they will say I shouldn’t have done it but next week I will be putting out as good a team as I can field.

“They have had a flyer, they have done what we did two years go – everyone wrote us off and everyone wrote Fulham off and now they are right back in the race and it will be a very difficult game again next week but I will make sure we are up for that game – I will make sure of that.”

In a way, fielding a full-strength team may be to Fulham’s advantage anyway. After all, if Redknapp played a bunch of fringe players, they might be more likely to play their socks off in an attempt to get into the reckoning for the Wembley final against Cardiff. Perhaps the first-teamers will be more likely to shun a few tough challenges and make sure they are fit for one of the biggest games of their footballing career.

Watch Portsmouth live online

Watch Fulham live online

The Daily Mail reports that the Benjani situation has just got even more confusing after Man City pulled out because a medical highlighted some dodgy knee problems for the Zimbabwean striker. On top of all that guff, there are whispers that Benjani doesn’t even want to move, which may see the lawyers rolling in, to try and make sense of the spaghetti junction of red tape and try and sort out Benjani’s future. Mail journo Neil Ashton writes:

“Although League officials confirmed on Friday that the correct documentation arrived from both clubs, their lawyers are sifting through a legal minefield after City refused to go through with the deal.

“City boss Sven Goran Eriksson maintains he wants to sign the Pompey striker but City officials are not convinced the player wants to move.

“Benjani missed the 3.15pm flight from Eastleigh and then, to City’s consternation, the next plane that left at 5pm.

“The following flight to Manchester was cancelled before Benjani arrived on the delayed 8.50, reaching the Carrington complex at 11.10pm for a short, unsatisfactory medical.”

All this opens up the possibility that Benjani might remain a Portsmouth player, something that manager Redknapp isn’t too chuffed about, Redknapp said:

“The worst case scenario is we get Benjani back, but £9m for someone who is nearly 30 is good money. The two deals were tied in. I wouldn’t have got Defoe if I didn’t think Benjani was going.

“I was sitting in the office when Peter Storrie (chief executive) got a call from City and said ‘yes, it’s done’. He was told the forms were being faxed through and the deal was done.

“Peter got our forms faxed off for Defoe with a minute to spare. Then we had a phone call at about 12.30am to say Benjani’s forms hadn’t gone through.

“He’s still in Manchester. He was late getting there and that caused a problem. He knew the night before but he took a long time arriving. We were reluctant to lose him but I still think the deal will go through.”

So the lawyers look like they will be in a complicated battle, and in the meantime Benjani will be twiddling his thumbs, unsure about which team he’ll be playing for and feeling unwanted by both clubs.

Picking through the wreckage of the late late transfer window dealings….

Kevin Keegan played the role of ‘Transfer Scrooge’ this deadline day…
…He vetoed a Swindon bid for England U-19 international Andy Carroll. (The Sun)
…pulled out of a move for centre-back Alvaro from Levante. (The Sun)
…And he also plans to have ‘crisis talks’ with Charles N’Zogbia, who appears to want to run far, far away in the summer. (Daily Star)

Everton boss David Moyes had a busy deadline day, flogging both veteran defender Alan Stubbs to Derby and Brazilian nonentity Anderson to Barnsley, whilst also finding time to pick up a 6′5″ defender on his way home. Shame the defender’s name is Anthony Gardner. (Various)

Benjani Mwaruwari’s move from Portsmouth to Man City still hasn’t been confirmed by the FA, which claims it didn’t receive the paperwork in time. (Various)
…All of which has left ‘Arry Redknapp in a sticky situation as he was counting on the Benjani dosh to finance his raid for Jermain Defoe. (BBC)
…And the actual amount that ‘Arry paid is also open to debate:
£12m (Daily Star)
£9m (Daily Mail)
£7m (Various)

Spurs boss Juande Ramos signed Hertha Berlin’s Brazilian left-back Gilberto from Hertha Berlin before the midnight deadline. (Express)

And Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez managed to convince his shady American paymasters to cough up a whopping £18.6m to pay the shady figures at MSI for Javier Mascherano’s shady midfield services.(Various)

And Rangers had a last minute sniff around Italian striker Andrea Caracciolo from Sampdoria but it was a case of too little too late. (Daily Record)

Bolton’s ginger supremo Gary Megson didn’t manage to bag Reading striker Leroy Lita despite frantically waving £7m around like a deranged city trader. (The Sun)

After getting his hopes up over a £2m move for goalkeeper Brad Guzan from Chivas USA, Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill had to cry himself to sleep on deadline night. (The Sun)

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is trying to slide under the closing transfer window with Sevilla winger Diego Capel. (Mirror)

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott doesn’t want to be fobbed off with a loan deal and is going to stay and fight like a man for his place in the team. (Mirror)

Portsmouth gaffer Harry Redknapp is so desperate to get his hands on Real Mallorca winger Jonas Gutierrez that he is set to offer £5m and Lauren in order to bag his man. (Various)
…And if Benjani does a runner to Man City then Harry Redknapp will try and lure Jermain Defoe to Pompey. (Times)

Middlesbrough, frankly desperate for someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net, are trying to bag Inter Milan forward Goran Slavkovski on loan. (Times)

Aston Villa are interested in taking Spurs midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng to Villa Park to rescue the German from his tepid Spurs career. (Times)

Both Norwich and Coventry are scrambling to secure the signature of Birmingham defender Martin Taylor. (Times)

Newcastle gaffer Kevin Keegan’s move for Levante’s Brazilian defender Alvaro has run aground. (Times)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson reckons that if he ignores the fact that FIFA have blocked his deal for Rangers striker Daniel Cousin, he’ll be able to sign him anyway. (Mirror)

Charlton will only cough up Andy Reid if Sunderland give them Greg Halford and are ready to test Sunderland’s resolve by asking for cash plus Greg Halford in exchange for Andy Reid. (Star)

The Lord of The Ferg is disgusted with the state of the Old Trafford pitch and has demanded that it be re-turfed, before it adversely affects United’s title bid. (The Sun)

Derby have snubbed Newcastle who have come blustering in with a less than satisfactory opening offer for winger Giles Barnes. (Daily Telegraph)
…And Newcastle also want FC Brno’s Czech midfielder Luboš Kalouda and are locked in a battle with Juventus for his signature. (Times)

Newcastle are after Levante’s Brazilian defender Alvaro to shore up his weeping sore of a defence, but will have to beat off stong interest from Birmingham. (Various)

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is after Portsmouth’s Zimbabwean striker Benjani Mwaruwari and is prepared to shower Harry Redknapp with £5m if he lets his star striker leave. (Daily Mail)

…And Harry Redknapp may sanction the sale of Benjani Mwaruwari if he manages to get his paws on Real Mallorca’s Argentinian striker Jonas Gutierrez, a player who seems to think it is ‘cool’ to throw a Spiderman mask on everytime he scores. (Various)

Man City’s Sven ‘Svengali’ Eriksson is plotting a raid on Valencia for Miguel Angel Angulo. (Daily Mail)

…And Eriksson is ready to ship off out of favour midfielder Ousmane Dabo to Siena on loan. (Various)

Watch Derby County live online

Watch Manchester United live online

Lassana Diarra wasn’t exactly complimentary about Portsmouth when he signed from Arsenal earlier this month, yet that hasn’t stopped the midfielder from receiving the plaudits from team-mates after a goal and fine all-round performance in his team’s 2-1 victory over Plymouth on Saturday. The Daily Mail reports that at least the Frenchman can finally start to feel appreciated at a Premier League club, albeit a ’smaller’ one!

‘I know him from when were together at Chelsea,’ said Glen Johnson said: ‘He didn’t suffer it as long as I did but he has been down pretty much the same road as me.

‘We are happy to have him here and it is good for him to be playing every week. He is brilliant. He is like a young Makelele with pace.’

‘Chelsea and Arsenal don’t go for players who don’t have quality,’ reasoned Niko Kranjcar. ‘You don’t play for the Under 21s or the senior French team if you are not a quality player.

‘You take a step at a time in your career but your final goal is always to get as high as you can and do everything you can to achieve that.’

Will Diarra’s Fratton Park career be short-lived or will he still be a Pompey player this time next season? At least Harry Redknapp has a quality international player for the next few months as his club bid to land a UEFA Cup qualification place.

Watch Chelsea live online

Watch Arsenal live online