Pompey close in on Diarra
Saturday, 16 Jun 2007 21:46
Diarra to Pompey?
Portsmouth are believed to be close to signing French international midfielder Alou Diarra, according to Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas.
Speaking to French media, Aulas described Portsmouth as being in the "driving seat" to acquire the rangy Senegalese-born star and suggested that a deal could be sealed for the 25-year-old imminently.
Diarra, who is believed to be seeking a move from the current French champions to gain regular first-team football, would cost somewhere in the region of £6 million - a shrewd piece of business from savvy Portsmouth manager Harry Rednapp.
Overlooked during the course of spells at Bayern Munich and
Liverpool, Diarra came to prominence after a couple of solid seasons at Lens from 2004 onwards.
Part of the French squad which reached the final of the World Cup squad in 2006, the midfielder was signed to replace the outgoing Mahamadou Diarra, who was signed by Real Madrid in a £17.7 million deal.
Redknapp, widely regarded as the original 'wheeler dealer' in the transfer market for his ability to sign experienced players on the cheap, is believed to have questioned the likelihood of the deal.
However if the transfer wen through it would represent a busy summer of recruitment for the south-coast club, with Redkhapp having already enlisted the services of Sulley Muntari from Udinese.
Premiership defenders Sylvain Dystain and Herman Hreidarsson have also been taken on by a club clearly looking to improve on last year's ninth-place finish.