Pompey aim to complete transfer treble

Harry Redknapp is poised to complete a hat-trick of new signings for Portsmouth in the next 48 hours when Preston North End striker Ricardo Fuller completes a £2m (€3m) move to Fratton Park.

The Jamaican, currently in transit from a spell in his native country playing in an international tournament, is set to arrive on the south coast soon, after the capture earlier this week of Newcastle winger Lomana LuaLua and Everton’s former England defender David Unsworth.

Pompey also claim to have turned down a £2m (€3m) Tottenham bid for talented England Under-21 wing-back Matthew Taylor.

Redknapp has finally embarked on a typical splash of wheeling and dealing, having made only one significant summer signing up to the start of this week – Newcastle full back Andy Griffin.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth’s rejection of Tottenham’s move for Taylor shows how much they rate the former Luton Town player.

But it would be unwise to rule out further departures from Fratton Park before the start of the new campaign, following the release of Teddy Sheringham and Tim Sherwood at the end of last term.

Tottenham reportedly offered former Southampton centre half Dean Richards, who cost them £8m (€12m) just two years ago, as part of a deal for Taylor, but Pompey insisted the left-sided star is not for sale at that price.

Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric, still trying to negotiate a deal to sign Greek Euro 2004 hero Angelos Basinas from Panathinaikos, said: “There is interest from Spurs in Matt Taylor. They have inquired about him…but we have said no."