Jermain Defoe plans to revive Portsmouth's European dream after leaving behind a frustrating four-year spell at Tottenham.

The 25-year-old moved to Fratton Park for £7.5million on transfer deadline day but the future of Benjani Mwaruwari is unclear after the 12-goal striker's move to Manchester City broke down.

The Premier League are examining the paperwork in the Zimbabwean's £8million move and while it is understood City got cold feet over the 29-year-old, Pompey have claimed the transfer had been signed.

Benjani arrived too late - after allegedly missing two northbound flights - to complete a medical which meant that required documents did not go through in time to beat the midnight transfer deadline.

It leaves Pompey manager Harry Redknapp with a surfeit of strikers and Pompey with a big hole in their finances.

Redknapp said: "We didn't really want Benji to go. If he doesn't in the end I've still got another fantastic player but, to be fair, if we wanted to sign Defoe we had to try to balance the books."

Pompey contacted the Football Association and Premier League to find if there was any scope for the Benjani deal to be resurrected under a special dispensation clause, claiming they were led to believe the documents relating to Benjani's proposed move had landed in time for them to press ahead with Defoe's signing.

But they found no immediate support from City who had already secured £5million Ecuador striker Felipe Caicedo, with a British work permit, from Swiss club FC Basle.

Nothing, though, can jeopardise Defoe's long-awaited move to Fratton Park.

Redknapp, who signed him at 15 for West Ham, has been trailing him for 18 months and he is set to make his debut at home to Chelsea tomorrow.

The England striker made just three league starts this season for Spurs where neither Martin Jol nor his successor Juande Ramos took a shine to him while he refused to sign a new contract.

Defoe cost Tottenham £7million from West Ham three years ago and scored 64 times in 177 games for the White Hart Lane team.

However, now he claims his sole concern is scoring for Pompey.

Defoe said: "All I am interested now is scoring goals for Portsmouth. Europe is a great target and I think we are capable of it.

"There is a lot of quality in the dressing room here and I'm looking forward to being part of that.

"I was with Harry at West Ham when I was a little boy. I'm still little but the manager is one of the best, you ask anybody and he has told me he likes me as a player.

"I want to play every game and he wants me to play. When you sign for a manager who has faith in you it gives you confidence. Sometimes it was difficult at Tottenham because you were working hard for no reason.

"But you had to be professional, say nothing and keep working. I've learned how to bite my tongue now and my mum keeps me in check.

"If you start moaning your head goes and when you do get the opportunity you don't play well.

"Sometimes it's difficult for a manager to go and speak to every individual about why he's not playing and I understand that but I'm not frustrated at all, I'm fresh and hopefully this will add a few years to my career."

Defoe was not selected for Fabio Capello's first England squad for next week's friendly against Switzerland although his absence was overshadowed by the absence of David Beckham.

However, he was philosophical saying: "I haven't played a lot lately so I can't expect to be in the England squad, but if I stay sharp and score goals for Pompey maybe I can get back in."

Redknapp said: "He's the sort of player we've only dreamed about getting at Portsmouth. To actually have him here is fantastic.

"He's a top, top player, a real goalscorer and needs to be playing, but he didn't have that at Tottenham who have other terrific strikers in Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane. We've wanted him for a long time and he's another great signing for us."

Redknapp hopes Defoe will help shoot down Pompey's dismal record against Chelsea who are seeking a club record 10 straight wins on Saturday.

Portsmouth last beat them 48 years ago in a League Cup tie and have lost all nine previous Premier League meetings and Benjani's consolation at Stamford Bridge last season remains their only goal in that sequence.

Redknapp will be reunited with Avram Grant, who spent a year at Pompey before taking over at Chelsea who are still just four points off the top.

And the Pompey chief said: "I'm looking forward to seeing Avram. He's done a fantastic job. He's gone in there and they have been on a great run.

"It was difficult for him when he first took over from Jose Mourinho, but he has just kept it going and kept winning football matches. He's a terrific guy and he's proved that he can do the job.

"He knows the game, he has been in it all his life. We enjoyed having him here but when the opportunity came along, it was too good to refuse. I'm delighted for him - but still want to beat him."

It is Pompey's second big test in four days after a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford which could have turned into a real drubbing.

But Redknapp insisted: "Everybody gets turned over at Manchester United. Just look at their record.

"Chelsea is another tough match but now we've got Defoe as well as Milan Baros and Lassana Diarra, who I think is a fantastic player. And when the African boys come back, I think we'll have a terrific team."

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