Pompey's sale could mean Nugent departs
PORTSMOUTH boss Harry Redknapp has been told he must sell players, including Ipswich Town target David Nugent before he can bring in any more.
Derek Davis
PORTSMOUTH boss Harry Redknapp has been told he must sell players, including Ipswich Town target David Nugent before he can bring in any more.
Redknapp has made it clear to Nugent that he has no future at Fratton Park and this could hasten Nugent's departure.
Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie has claimed the world-wide credit crunch has stymied Redknapp's spending power after buying Peter Crouch for £11million from Liverpool and French defender Kaboul for £5million from Tottenham.
Storrie said: "The credit crunch is there and everybody has been affected by it. We don't get away just because we are a football club.
"The banks are now tighter and not prepared to put debt on. You just cannot continue to increase debts.
Most Read
- 1 London couple transform Suffolk home into an 'intimate' lifestyle retreat
- 2 Forbidden Suffolk: 5 more places you can’t visit in Suffolk
- 3 What time will the Red Arrows be flying over Suffolk this weekend?
- 4 Revealed: The most popular Suffolk fish and chip shop
- 5 The night Town beat Real Madrid - and why they're still part of elite club
- 6 Driver being taken to hospital after car ends up on roof in field
- 7 Two motorbikes stolen after break-in at Suffolk home
- 8 When will bins be emptied during the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend?
- 9 Village suffers power cut for 7 hours after vehicle hits electricity pole
- 10 Former Town striker's front-to-back season could end in Wembley glory
"I did say we intended to bring in three top players but that was before the credit crunch.
"The owner has already invested an incredible amount of money but we cannot keep spending the amount we have spent since the summer of 2007 - in excess of £60million on players alone.”
Pompey are looking for as much as £5m for Nugent, but may be prepared to do an initial loan deal and could also consider a cash plus Danny Haynes deal.
Town are impatient to land a striker, especially with the uncertainty still surrounding Jon Walters, and if Nugent does not show more interest in moving to Ipswich then they will look elsewhere.
The Blues have already gone back in for Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi and probably have more financial clout than rivals Norwich City who are also keen on the 26-year-old.
Manager Jim Magilton's patience will be rewarded today when Ben Thatcher finally signs the one-year contract offer after successfully completing his medical last night.
