Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Tuesday January 15 2008
Time: 10:37AM
UK time is: 03:00:50
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Pompey to wrap up Diarra signing?
There are a lot of 'rumours' flying around the net today - as well as the papers - that we could be close to completing the signing of Lassana Diarra.
The Frenchman has been one of the names constantly 'linked' with us, yet the fee of anywhere between £4m up to £6m has always been thought to be the first hurdle, we would then have to convince him to come here - something that Harry Redknapp is good add - then finally agree terms with him, another major problem given the amount that he would most likely demand.
When you add up all those factors it seems to suggest one thing, 'no deal'... however the 'rumours' are that we have agreed a £5.5m fee with Arsenal, so we now need to agree terms.
I am not sure, as I do not think that we have any money, sometimes my hopes are raised that we might, but then I keep going back to the thought that we just do not after the heavy spending in the summer?
I am not going to say 'my inside source tells me' so and so, as I do not and will not claim to have 'unquestionable inside information' but a friend of mine who does have contacts in the papers has told me today that the 'big rumours' of a fee being agreed are being denied by Pompey but this is not being believed by the papers and apparently we do only need to agree terms?
Again I am not saying this is gospel before anyone says I am 'making things up' - I am just sharing what I am told by a trustworthy friend.
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Your Comments
Rug, i think you are right about our money situation so all of these rumours would seem a little odd. Also, if the £5.5M is true it would seem a lot of money for a stop gap whilst the other guys are away on ANC duty. I think there's certainly a transfer merry go round about to happen which include clubs like Pompey, Reading, Sunderland etc. I think once Harry has his replacement for Matty we will start to see this merry go round revolve!
bluedr
I think Sasha has got money but he is probably keeping one eye on the purse strings, bearing in mind that there is a new training ground to furnish and also the new ground. He is a wealthy guy but in fairness the training ground and stadium are not just a couple of £M we are talking megga bucks. One thing is for sure Matty having been left of the bench on Sunday (unless he was injured?) speaks volumes to me and he will be on his way (more the pity). So there will be money from that deal or perhaps as suggested the Lita swap remour will give us our striker. Lita is quick and may add something to our frontline with the added bonus for Harry, that as he is not a big name he won't expect to be first choice starter each week, unlike Defoe or Crouch and co who will have some clause written intio any contract that they would sign.
blarmy
i think that diarra would be a fantastic signing, and if we have agreed a fee and can agree wages, but £60,000 a week seems too much on top of the fee this will signal some intent - but we'll see...
pompeyrug
i think the 'official' word is that matty taylor was injured, altho 'unofficially' it is said that he 'refused to play citing injury as a factor'... i think it is probably safe to say weve all accepted that he is going, i just want this sorted now so we can move on - as can he, but be prepared for some harsh words being said by him - i hate this happening when players leave, but i fear we will see this from him - but not towards the fans.
pompeyrug
blarmy, Matt Taylor wasn't even on the bench! We had Bergovic, Lauren, Traore, Wilson and Songo'o. After the Harry to Newcastle thing, I can see us having a little bit of money but probably a maximum of £10m.
stillthewhizz
I think we do have some money to spend. Harry alway says 'We ahve no money' 'We have a small squad' 'We are looking to get to 40 points' Its like they are programmed into him after so many years of saying them. How much do people actually think we spent inthe summer? Bearing in mind we got given £20 mill from sky and other media companies, plus we sold a few players. We can't have actually spent that much can we? There must be some money to spend. I think Harry will pull something out of the bag - he always does. If people are playing around with html does that mean that you can add an advert? href="http://www.getmediscount.com/retailerlist.php?categoryid=20"target="_blank"Save Money and get discounts onsporting goods at getMEdiscount.com
sneakay
The squad is low on numbers & quality now & it could still do with a twek even when the ANC is over. We are short up front & in the middle. As with Matty, great as he has been, Pedro is going the same way. We,ve got to keep improving, we can't sit still. Look at Everton, that's what we have to aim at as the next step.
storagematt
I wish Harry would sound more ambitious. We all want to aim for a UEFA cup place, it sounds sometimes like the manager and players are all happy with safety. We should believe in it, push for it, talk about it. Although we have to do something about the team right now first. Perhaps signing Diarra would be a start.
tracyc
adverts would be preferred against tbh - i dont mind the colours being changed using the html, but size does bother me and would rather we 'kept it real' on that score... and as said no adverts either... if we can get diarra, who would be a fantastic signing, this would make a statement wouldnt it... storrie says we 'will sign' a player soon and hopes for us to have 2 by the weekend?
pompeyrug
Diarra could definately challenge Diop for a place in the centre and being a France international, there's a sign that we could be signing a quality future player.
stillthewhizz
Defoe for Distin and Taylor??
OneAaronLennon
You can have Taylor, Distin isn't going anywhere.
stillthewhizz
But without Distin it wouldn't be a fair swap, you would be getting the better deal.
OneAaronLennon
yea but with distan we have only 1 legitimate central defender, nice try,
whitestones
we are overstacked in central midfield, which when we play the 451 formation isnt bad because we need them, but that formation has shown to be ineffective at home in particular, if we want to improve we NEED to get another striker and a right midfielder (without selling any). I like diarra, I think he has good potential and would be able to overtake rival all of our central midfielder for a spot in the first team, but if we do get him I think we should look to unload one of our central midfielders to to finance the move and other moves, it makes absolutely no sense to get another central midfielder while some of the ones we already have are not getting playing time (mendes, mvuemba, hughes)
whitestones
Totally agree Whitestones, but history shows that HR never buys what we need.
007
i know players werent played were maybe they should have been in the midfield on sunday but we looked 'light' diarra is a certain step up in quality so if we can sign him we'll reap the benefits and it will send out a sign... clearly tho i would rather a striker came in first, but if he followed everyone's a winner... well apart from some of our midfield!
pompeyrug
diarra would be a bloody good signing!!!
CharlieChimes
cant decide if we have the money, if we dont have any money, if he is whatwe need above all else, or what really. he is a quality player that will add creativity - and no-one could deny that we need that at the moment...
pompeycarpet
Dont be suprised if we are linked to Amdy Faye next, as i see he wants out of Rangers.
Diarra is a decent player, but we cant afford his wages surely, i just find it hard to believe that he would want to come to us.
Owenspompey
thats what i said about Sol Campbell coming and Krancjar
russellm
I agree, I dont see why he wouldnt want to come here, he is a young player and what he wants most of all is steady playing time, and portsmouth are a contending team for europe so he also has something to play for as well. He may see his move here as not 'permanent' but a place where he can improve as a player and enhance his reputation and I have no problem with that, he would an improvement
whitestones
seen in/around fratton park today, a friend tells me he will probably join whithin a couple of days. he also predicted the signings of utaka and nugent before they actally came, so i think he could be accurate (he only says probably though)...
pompeycarpet
and pederso is another name that keeps popping up too...
pompeycarpet
What sort of player is he? Combative? play maker? Centre midfield...is that correct? If so, someone will have to make way, who will it be?
pompey4me
Quite a few names keep bobbing up and various people at Pompey say we have this player or that player looking us over or trialling but we have no money to buy players. This seems a bit of a contradiction but I think we must be used to that now. Along with the training ground and the "claytons" stadium, i will believe it all when it happens.
frattonaussie
thats the way to go, but i have been told by someone that i do trust and seriously does 'know people' that this deal will be announced on friday - if not before...
pompeyrug
Guys... I think the deal is pretty much done. I know we should be spending the little we got to bolster our attack, but Diarra is a class player. And, who needs richard hughes when we got diarra.(honestly, i dont understand how hughes makes the team)
He will certainly increase our chances of making Europe. If we have signed him, then i'd like to think that our midfield is pretty decent with kranjcar, muntari, diarra, diop....
Anyways thumps up from down under
ausoccer
Diarra gives us a couple of options in the middle but the things that worries me most is the fact that he moves on quickly if not playing (look at his appearance record for Chelsea & Arsenal.. not impressive) I think it this guy does come he is playing week in and wek out as he needs to play football in order to get into the french team in the summer.... so Jose and Arsene both rated him highly enough to buy, he's keen, a snip @ £6m and would really bolster our midfield... get the cheque book out Sasha..
Chix
Would be a excellent signing for you. Didn't quite make it at arsenal but shouldn't have a problem with you.
will it ever happen
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