STRUGGLING Portsmouth are ready to swoop for Amr Zaki - and give the Egyptian bad boy a second chance in the Premier League. (Mirror)Pompey spies watched the former Wigan hit man score for his country in their World Cup showdown win over Algeria at the weekend and they are setting up a loan deal.

STRUGGLING Portsmouth are ready to swoop for Amr Zaki - and give the Egyptian bad boy a second chance in the Premier League. (Mirror)

Pompey spies watched the former Wigan hit man score for his country in their World Cup showdown win over Algeria at the weekend and they are setting up a loan deal.

Zaki is back at Zamalek after his stay at Wigan was cut short because of a major rift with former boss Steve Bruce who branded him the 'worst professional he had ever worked with'.

However Portsmouth think that Zaki's explosive style and goalscoring skills could keep them in the Premier League - and a short loan spell with the chance of a full-time switch may get the best out of him.

Zaki is looking to come back to England and has stayed in touch with some of Portsmouth's owners since coming close to a move last summer.

Now the current regime are back on his trail and looking to tie up a transfer with his Egyptian side in the next few days to bring him in to train ahead of playing from the opening of the window in the New Year.