Pompey lining up West move

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp today began his preparations for a second season in the Premiership with a move for flamboyant Nigerian international Taribo West.

Redknapp is planing for another top-flight term after his side’s superb return of 16 points from a possible 18 set up the likelihood of mathematical safety being achieved on Saturday.

Redknapp has now earmarked West, known for his outlandish haircuts and loud dress sense, as a potential recruit.

The 30-year-old defender, set to the released by Partizan Belgrade, held talks with Redknapp at the club’s Eastleigh training ground at lunchtime.

The African actually impressed on trial at Fratton Park last season but a move broke down when the German football authorities refused to release the paperwork held by his club Kaiserslautern.

But West, who played under Portsmouth assistant boss Jim Smith during six months at Derby in 2001, is now back at Pompey and said: “I fancy coming back to England.

“I’m a free player now. I was here on trial before but the German FA wouldn’t release my registration.

“I like the Premiership so I’ll chat with Portsmouth and see how it goes.”

West, a friend of Portsmouth striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu – a fellow Nigerian - began his career at Inter Milan before switching to their city rivals AC Milan, then Derby, Kaiserslautern and Partizan Belgrade.

At Partizan, West helped his team to dump Newcastle out of the Champions League qualifiers in August. United drew 1-1 on aggregate but went out on penalties, paving the way for West to face Real Madrid later in the competition.

Redknapp is now seeking clarification from his chairman Milan Mandaric over the exact funds available to him in the summer.

“Taribo is here,” he said. “But it’s difficult until I know how much I’ve got to spend.”