Spurs' Crouch bid accepted, Pompey cut cloth

By Soccernet staff

July 26, 2009

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart has confirmed the club have accepted an offer from Tottenham Hotspur from Peter Crouch.

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Harry Redknapp welcomes Peter Crouch to Portsmouth back in 2007

It means Harry Redknapp has moved into pole position to sign the England international, who last week rejected a £12m move to Sunderland as he did not want to play in the north east.

Fulham remain interested in the player but with Bobby Zamora set to turn down the chance of joining Hull City, Roy Hodgson may not be able to get the funds together before Spurs have moved in.

However, Redknapp, who signed the striker for Pompey two years ago, has made it clear that defence is his priority at the moment as he has no fit central defenders. Whether he breaks off from that to ensure he signs Crouch remains to be seen.

And Hart has insisted Pompey will now be run as a tight ship, and there will be no big spending like at other Premier League clubs which have recently been taken over.

"Obviously I'm disappointed to see Peter leave, but given the severe financial restraints in place here we had no choice but to accept an offer from Tottenham," he told the Daily Mirror.

"I think people need to realise that Pompey have been punching above their weight and could no longer sustain the level of spending that has gone on here over the last three years."

Hart also insisted that the takeover spearheaded by Sulaiman Al Fahim would not lead to a Manchester City style spending spree.

"Even though a new owner is poised to come in our dealings in the market will be modest in comparison to the past," added Hart.

Redknapp said after Sunday's defeat to Celtic that it is not yet a done deal.

''They want to sell him, it's common knowledge they need to sell him,'' said Redknapp after the 2-0 Wembley Cup loss. ''I don't think they're crazy demands - it's a fair deal and his wages are fine.

''He's different. He holds the ball up. Celtic held the ball up well but we don't do that well enough.

''He gives you an option and he's played for me a few times before. He's always done a job and he's great on set-plays at both ends.''

Redknapp believes he can sign either Crouch or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, rather than both, with Darren Bent looking to leave. It means the defeat to Celtic, when he missed three opportunities, could be his last for the club.

''Darren is looking to go but it's up to people to make the offer that we want,'' Redknapp added.

''Nobody misses chances deliberately. He tucked some great chances away in pre-season and he will always score goals. He's a good player but I just want some balance and Crouchy would give us something different.''

Leeds youngster Fabian Delph is another on Redknapp radar.

''He's a terrific young player but there will be a few clubs in for him,'' Redknapp said.

Celtic exposed Redknapp's problems at the back when Chris Killen and Georgios Samaras scored in the first half, with Tony Mowbray's men winning the pre-season tournament.

''I started with Dorian Dervite and Pascal Chimbonda at centre-back and, no disrespect, but they are not going to start the season there,'' Redknapp said.

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