Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth reject swap offer from Spurs of Cudicini for James
Portsmouth have rejected a straight swap offer from Tottenham of goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini for England No 1 David James.
James, 39, is understood to be eager to quit Fratton Park to maintain his World Cup prospects despite Sulaiman Al Fahim’s takeover, but time is running out for him to be granted his wish.
Al Fahim said: 'We don’t need to sell players. Sylvain Distin leaving was disappointing for me. We would like David James to stay at the club.'
Contrary to reports, Sunderland are not in the market for James and his hopes of a move would seem to rest on Harry Redknapp persuading his Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, to bid for the veteran goalkeeper before the closure of the transfer window at 5pm today.
Levy is understood to be reluctant to do that with high wage earners Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes already on Tottenham’s books, although the Brazilian is currently sidelined with a thigh injury.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth remain hopeful of tying up deals for Manchester City defender Tal Ben Haim and striker Benjani before the window shuts. Former Fratton Park favourite Benjani saw a move to Hull City collapse yesterday after personal terms could not be agreed and Pompey were last night understood to have agreed a fee with City for the striker.
Bottom of the table Portsmouth, along with Blackburn, Bolton and Hull, are also in talks with former Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Liverpool winger Boudewijn Zenden, who has a rejected a two-year contract offer from his French club Marseille.
Portsmouth manager Paul Hart’s frantic late recruitment drive will not stop there. He is keen to further bolster his defence, following the departure of Sylvain Distin to Everton, with 6ft 4in Watford defender Mike Williamson. Hart has already had a bid of £1.5m rejected for the former Southampton trainee but a further £500,000 should be enough to clinch the deal. Wycombe are due 25 per cent of the profit over £400,000 for Williamson.
Carlo Cudicini
No sale: Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is reluctant to buy James with high wage-earner Carlo Cudicini (above) already on the books at White Hart Lane
Hart is also hopeful he has beaten Fulham to the loan signing of Slovakia defender Jan Durica from Lokomotiv Moscow.
Portsmouth are also reviving their bid for Sunderland centre half Nyron Nosworthy. Sunderland rejected an offer last week for the 28-year-old but expect a fresh offer of around £2.5m today, which could seal a deal.
Hart said: ‘We are looking at several players who can come in now either permanently or on loan. There is no doubt we need a central defender. You cannot lose players like Sylvain Distin and Sol Campbell and not replace them.’
Hull had been expected to make an offer for Nosworthy, too, but are now looking at targets in other areas and are desperate to sign another striker.
That could lead to a battle with Portsmouth for Egyptian striker Amr Zaki, who spent last season on loan at Wigan from his club Zamalek.
Zaki's agent, Nader Shawki, said: ‘Portsmouth offered £3million or £2.5million plus 50 per cent of the next sale to buy him permanently. They also made a £500,000 loan offer, but Zamalek aren’t ready to sell.’
