Portsmouth Football Club News

• Nickname:Pompey
• Founded:1898
• Manager:Michael Appleton

• Ground:Fratton Park
• Capacity:19,179

Redknapp fears Diarra exit

14 Sep 2008 - 16:19:52

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Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he fears losing midfielder Lassana Diarra to a bigger club sooner rather than later.

The 23-year-old France international only joined Pompey in January, having left both Chelsea and Arsenal to seek regular first-team action.

However, Redknapp fears that Diarra will quickly be a target for some of Europe's elite if he continues to turn in the sort of display which he showed in the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Redknapp commented: "He's unbelievable, he really is. He's a top, top player and yet so easy to deal with, a good little lad who just wants to get on with it.

"Please God he stays here for a while, but you know one day he could go on and play for anybody, any of the big clubs in the world.

"He is back in the France team and he played both their games last week. My chief scout went to the Serbia game and said he was fantastic.

"Why they didn't play him at Euro 2008 was a big surprise to me. I really don't know the answer to that one, but now I'm hearing that Lilian Thuram is saying that he'll be the next French captain. Yes, he's that good.

"I think we signed him for four years and he's tied up on contract here, but you know what happens. If they want to go they usually go."