Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth had no choice but to sell Peter Crouch to Tottenham
The 6ft 7in striker passed a medical on Monday and agreed personal terms on a £10 million deal.
Crouch passed up an offer to join Sunderland in order to rejoin former manager Harry Redknapp and strike partner Jermain Defoe at White Hart Lane.
Disappointed to see the 28-year-old former Liverpool player leave, Portsmouth released a statement on their website which read: "We are sorry to see Peter go both as a player and a person and would like to thank him for playing a key role in keeping the club in the Premier League last season.
"His sale was necessitated by the club's commitment to repay scheduled debts while we are in the transitional period of completing the takeover.
"We will now be looking to add fresh faces to the first-team squad as soon as possible."
Portsmouth announced on July 21 they have agreed in principle to a takeover by United Arab Emirates tycoon Sulaiman Al Fahim - the brainchild behind last year's takeover of Manchester City - after the 32-year-old passed the Premier League's fit and proper person test.
Crouch, scorer of 16 goals in his 34 international appearances, had preferred to go to Spurs rather than another Premier League club Sunderland, who made a £12million approach for him last week.
Steve Bruce's club is now expected to sign Darren Bent from Tottenham as the striker looks surplus to requirements with Crouch's arrival.
Despite their apparent financial woes, Portsmouth are still being linked with signing players this summer. With Crouch gone and having lost Glen Johnson to Liverpool last month, manager Paul hart is believed to be interested in Croatian international Nikola Kalinic.
The Sun claims the 21-year-old has already flown into England to put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract at Fratton Park.
"My dream has come true. It has not yet finalised but God willing, everything will be OK, Kalinic said.
"Playing in Portsmouth would be a great challenge for me and an opportunity to prove myself and justify the faith shown in me - particularly by Paul Hart."
