Finances still a mystery to Redknapp

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is waiting to find out from owner Alexandre Gaydamak how much he has to spend in the new year.

So far Redknapp has not extended Gaydamak in terms of his finances, with club record signing Benjani Mwaruwari (€6.1m) and Niko Kranjcar (€5.2m) the only really significant purchases since the French businessman came on board at Fratton Park in January.

Veteran campaigners David James, Sol Campbell, Kanu and Andy Cole have all been signed relatively cheaply, albeit on significant wages, but with Pompey currently fifth in the Premiership Redknapp knows he must strengthen if he is to push higher.

However, the manager believes that whatever signings he makes there is sufficient quality in his squad to maintain the challenge.

“I have not really spoken to the owner about it and do not have a player in mind,” said Redknapp.

“If the owner says to me ‘You have £4million to spend’ then I will have a look and see where we can strengthen. If we do not do anything then we will just crack on as we are, keep going and see where it takes us. I do not get carried away.

“We will just take things as they come and have done great with what we have got.”

Redknapp added: “People said I invested heavily in the transfer market last year – well I took three players from Tottenham’s reserves who could not get a game.

“Noe Pamarot, Pedro Mendes and Sean Davies have all done great for me, but none of them were anywhere near getting in the Spurs team at the time.

“Then in the summer we picked up people like Kanu, Glen Johnson, who was a loan signing, Sol Campbell on a free and also David James – we did not exactly go crazy.”