Boateng makes Pompey switch

TOTTENHAM midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is on his way to Portsmouth as Harry Redknapp began showing the exit door to some of his superfluous stars.

The German has struggled to hold down a first team place at White Hart Lane since joining the London club in 2007 and the clubs have agreed a fee of around £4m, although the deal has still to be finalised.

Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara is also joining Redknapp’s former club on the south-coast in a loan deal until January. With Pascal Chimbonda having joined Blackburn for £3m, Redknapp has pruned his Premier League table-topping squad and admits he is unlikely to bring in any more players while insisting he wants to keep Roman Pavlyuchenko who has been linked with Spartak Moscow.

Redknapp said: “He (Pavlyuchenko) needs to play and he finds it difficult not playing and he wants to be part of the Russian team. I had a chat with him this week and he’s happy here. He enjoys being here.

“I’ve started with Jermain (Defoe) and Robbie (Keane) up front and the results couldn’t have been better so it’s been hard for him and Peter Crouch. They are disappointed but it is difficult to change a team that is playing well.

“Pavlyuchenko’s got great technique. He took his goal well at Doncaster in midweek. If there’s a big offer and the chairman feels we need to do it we’ll decide. But I’d like to keep him.”

On O’Hara, Redknapp admitted that he was reluctant to let him go and said: “Jamie’s a terrific player but needs to play games and I’ll let him go to Portsmouth on loan. He’ll do a great job for them.”

Redknapp’s side play Birmingham today at White Hart Lane as they bid to keep their 100% record intact. They have scored 14 goals in four games so far this season, including the five they smashed in against Doncaster in the Carling Cup in midweek.

The one dark note for Redknapp in Tottenham’s high-flying start to the season was the news that winger David Bentley had been banned from driving for a year and fined £600 for drink driving.

Bentley admitted the offence which happened in Potters Bar last month when he had drunk four pints and two shots of spirits after attending a gig.

Redknapp said: “Sounds like he’s been very lucky. Peanuts, isn’t it? In terms of what the players earn. He’s been let off very lightly in my opinion. We’ll fine him the maximum we can fine him,” said Redknapp.