Benni blows out Pompey

Porto striker Benni McCarthy has ruled out a move to the Barclays Premiership despite increased interest from several clubs.

The South African international has been a target of Portsmouth, Blackburn and West Ham in the winter transfer window, but has now insisted he does not want to leave Porto.

Hammers boss Alan Pardew is understood to have had a bid of around £6m (€8.7m) rejected for the frontman, who is currently on international duty in Egypt playing in the African Nations Cup with South Africa.

“I’m not interested,” McCarthy told Portuguese sports newspaper O Jogo. "I don’t want to go to Portsmouth or any other club that has no ambitions.”

McCarthy, who is under contract with Porto until 2007, had said in the past that one day he would like to play in the Premiership, but now appears to have changed his mind.

“Lately I’ve had playing time in FC Porto,” he added. “They (FC Porto) didn’t allow me to leave at the start of the season and now that I am well, I don’t want to leave.”

The 28-year-old striker has been previously linked with a move to England after a deal to join Everton fell through at the last minute in September 2004.