Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is bracing himself for the disappointment of missing out Nicky Shorey and fears a lack of funds will place Younes Kaboul out of reach.
Redknapp has been interested in Reading full-back Shorey and Tottenham defender Kaboul as he bids to reinforce his backline ahead of the new season, which will see Pompey compete on four fronts.
However, Shorey is holding discussions with Aston Villa after Reading accepted a reported bid of £3.5million for the England international.
Redknapp also believes Villa are set to win the race for the signature of Kaboul because Pompey do not have the necessary funds to finance a move.
"Villa are still in front for Kaboul. They are also about to take Shorey," Redknapp told the Portsmouth News. "I was interested in Shorey so I'm disappointed."
And Redknapp has reiterated he will have to allow players to leave if he is to welcome new arrivals.
"We are going to have to sell one or two to do something," Redknapp added. "It's not a bottomless pit after all.
"You need to sell, really, to bring someone in. That is how it is and how it should be, it's not a problem.
"That's the name of the game. We have to sell one or maybe two to bring someone else in and I accept that."
Meanwhile, Pompey striker Danijel Subotic has joined Belgian club Zulte Waregem on loan.
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
Again, his Royal Whininess Harry Redknapp explains before the season starts why his team will sit bottom of the table. He loves to lower expectations, so that anything positive from the season is obviously due to his brilliance as a manager. Actually, he has some very nice players, ones that many a team would love to have, and a few that are really too good for him to have hold of. He does them a disservice by talking them down. He should shut up and get them prepared for the long haul ahead.
He would never have gone to Sunderland anyway, Villa have been watching him for a while, Kaboul seems to actually want to go to Portsmouth but if they can't afford Shorey he will probably also end up at Villa. As for the comment by upwardjack: Sunderland a big club! Bigger than Portsmouth! Oh dear, you are living WAYYYYYYYYY in the past with that remark. From an outsiders point of view (Real Madrid fan from Spain), after living here, Italy and now USA Sunderland are not even on the map, no-one knows who they are, actually Portsmouth has quite a large fan base throughout the world including a large follwing in the USA.
They have a good manager in Keane but how long will he be staying? When Ferguson retires he will be off in a heartbeat. Another season of struggle ahead for them and Portsmouth probably top 6.
i agree harry should keep his mouth shut if he had kaboul might be at sunderland now so why cause speculation if portsmouth havent even got the money kaboul was on the verge of signing for sunderland till he opened his mouth. Lets face it pompey arent exachtly a big club like sunderland. The only attraction is the lifestyle of the south coast, but surely that should be when u retire as a footballer u should want to join a big club not a mickey mouse club like pompey.
Does this an know what he's talking about? He's becoming footballs weathervane - every time the wind blows he changes his mind. He's certain to be right about Kaboul, because at one time or another he's ade every one of the three interested clubs, Sunderland, Villa and Pompey, the favourite to sign the player. In the interests of sport lovers everywhere he should shut his bloody bg mouth!
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