Pompey complete Viafara signing

Portsmouth boss Alain Perrin continued his preparations for the new season with the completion of midfielder John Viafara’s transfer from Once Caldas.

The combative 26-year-old Colombian was granted a work permit last month after agreeing terms for a move to the Barclays Premiership, in what is understood to have been a £1.6m (€2.3m) deal.

Viafara flew into Britain last night, and passed a medical this morning before joining up with his new team-mates for pre-season training.

“It will not be easy, but I know I can win and achieve something for them,” he said.

Perrin was eventually appointed in April following Harry Redknapp’s acrimonious departure from Fratton Park at the end of 2004, and guided the south-coast club to 16th place – six points clear of the relegation zone.

The Frenchman, though, is keen to stamp his own mark on Pompey this season.

Perrin has allowed Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Patrick Berger, Shaka Hislop and Steve Stone to all go, while bringing in the likes of Newcastle pair Laurent Robert and Andy O’Brien.

The Pompey boss, however, feels he is still short of numbers as the squad prepares for a short pre-season trip to France at the end of next week.

With a net sum of around £4.5m (€6.6m) having come into Fratton Park following the departure of Yakubu to Middlesbrough – the remaining £3m (€4.4m) going to Maccabi Haifa as part of a sell-on clause – it is unlikely Perrin’s summer spending has finished.

Midfielder Lee Clark, 32, is reported to have taken the bold step of contacting chief executive Peter Storrie to offer his services after being released by Fulham, while Pompey are also said to be maintaining a keen interest in Chelsea duo Carlton Cole and Alexei Smertin as well as Norwich midfielder Damien Francis and the Canaries’ England keeper Robert Green.

A firm move for the 25-year-old stopper seems increasingly unlikely, though, now Italian Emanuele Belardi, currently with Reggina, is being given a trail as Perrin seeks back-up for Jamie Ashdown and unconvincing Greek Kostas Chalkias.

The Frenchman is understood to also be keen to recruit more cover at left-back, with Utrecht’s David di Tommaso and Nigerian Ifeanyi Udeze, currently with PAOK Salonika, both linked to Pompey in recent weeks.

One thing is for certain, though, according to skipper Arjan de Zeeuw.

Following the arrival of O’Brien, there is set to be plenty of competition for the two centre-half places, with Dejan Stefanovic and Linvoy Primus – now looking unlikely to leave as part of any makeweight for the £2m (€2.9m)-rated Francis – also in the frame.

Dutchman de Zeeuw, 25, however, believes the added personnel can only be good for the team.

“They’ve brought in three players so far and I’m sure they’ll want to sign more,” he told The Portsmouth News.

“We’ve got quite a few people for the centre-back positions, but competition is what makes teams strong. As a player it’s all about how you respond to competition – and I usually respond well.”