'Arry content with his striking options

With the signing of Peter Crouch a mere formality now - and trust me this will happen, there is not a doubt about it, it is just a case of when we announce it, not if! - Harry Redknapp has said that he is happy with the striking options he has.

And with Crouch - soon, Jermain Defoe, Dave Nugent, Kanu? And the on loan Ben Sahar to choose from, not forgetting that John Utaka could easily also be used as a striker, at the end of the day why shouldn't he be happy? Speaking in The News he said: 'I'm not looking for any more strikers now, that will be it for that position.

'If Crouchie comes I will be very happy with what I've got. I've always said I wanted four or five strikers to choose from. Last year we didn't have that.

'Crouchie is obviously a quality player, he will be a fantastic signing for us. He's a good lad as well, him and Jermain together can be exciting.'

A lot of uncertainty still remains over the future of Nugent, with Sunderland - again, clearly they harbour no ill filling after the war of words last summer then? - the latest club to be 'linked' with him but although he stopped short of saying he is not for sale full stop Redknapp has said that he wants him to stay and take his chances if/when the come along this season: 'I don't want any of them to leave now. I would like to keep Nuge if possible, you need all of them this season.

'If you are competing in the UEFA Cup as well there are a lot of matches, we need strength in depth and these players give that.

'It's up to Nuge now, I'm looking for him to push on. If he gets the opportunity it's up to him to take it. He needs to come good and show what he can do.

'The first year was a big step up for him but he knows what's expected now. He's got the ability to do it, no doubt about that.

'I'm happy with them all, I don't want any to go.'

As I say I would have liked him to have said he was not for sale, not leave the door slightly ajar for him to go but all being well this will signal him staying and having the chance to prove his worth...

Sahar is only on loan until Christmas, as despite the fact that he is young and inexperienced Redknapp has little doubts about his ability too, and should it not work out he could always use the January window to do some wheeler-dealing!

We have a fantastic strike force on paper, there are still doubts about Nugent and Kanu, but hopefully these will be put to rest for the time being by what has been said about the England man. As far as 'the king' goes so long as he accepts what is on the table there should not be an issue with him - if he wants more than the year show him the door its that simple! I would rather this out of the two, and we would still have 5 strikers should that be the case taking Utaka into account.

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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