Portsmouth FC

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Pompey close to Crouch deal

05 Jul 2008 - 11:11:52

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Portsmouth have reportedly agreed a £10million fee with Liverpool for striker Peter Crouch.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp saw a second bid of £9million for the unsettled England striker rejected by the Anfield club earlier this week.

But the south coast club have returned with a improved offer for the striker, who spent one season at Portsmouth six years ago under Redknapp, before moving on to Aston Villa, Southampton and then the Reds in 2005.

Redknapp was alerted to Crouch's availability after his admission last month that he may look to leave Anfield due to a lack of starting opportunities, but the Pompey chief had vowed not to pay over the odds for the 27-year-old striker.

The news of the deal comes hard on the heels of chief executive Peter Storrie calling for patience after managing to add just free agent Glen Little and on-loan forward Ben Sahar to the squad during the close season.

"I can assure supporters we will strengthen the squad with quality signings over the summer - it's just at the moment it is a naturally quiet time," he said.

"This is also a summer in which there's been a tournament taking place, which also delays matters.

"There is no need to panic - not much will happen until the middle of July."