Campbell hoping for striker breakthrough
Sol Campbell admits he will not become really excited about Portsmouth’s prospects in the new Barclays Premier League campaign until manager Harry Redknapp signs a top quality striker.
With two experienced central defenders among Redknapp’s summer acquisitions - Sylvain Distin from Manchester City and Hermann Hreidarsson from Charlton – you might think former England centre half Campbell would be more concerned over his own position at the back.
But the 32-year-old ex-Arsenal and Tottenham ace, the star signing last term, insists it is a secondary consideration compared to the team’s overall well-being.
Kanu, last season’s top scorer when Pompey finished ninth in the top-flight, narrowly missing out on a place in Europe, has yet to return to pre-season training – with a long debate still raging over his unwillingness to accept only a year’s new contract.
Under-used Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov has also left for Charlton.
And veteran front-man Andrew Cole’s situation is in doubt after spending the back-end of last season on loan to Birmingham following his failure to hold down a regular first-team place with Redknapp’s rejuvenated side.
Campbell should be encouraged by the fact that Portsmouth appear close to landing Preston poacher David Nugent in a £6m deal which could be finalised in the next 48 hours, but he said: “The team is in good shape but for me the buzz will only really start when I see some serious new players up front.
“I realise the club have got to do their deals and the ones that have been brought in this summer look to be good additions.
“But hopefully more deals can be done because that will make a big difference.
“The aim here is to improve every year and I know Harry is trying to make that happen. It is difficult but until we get more front players in the buzz will only be there because we are looking at a new situation.”
Redknapp was delighted to capture Frenchman Distin and Icelandic star Hreidarsson on free transfers even though Pompey’s success last season was built on the yeoman defending of Campbell and Linvoy Primus – who missed only a handful of matches between them.
Kanu made an explosive start but the last of his 12 goals came in February and the club are adamant they will not offer him more than a one-year deal – with options – and he has been linked with several clubs abroad.
Redknapp broke Pompey’s transfer record with a £7m swoop for Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari from Italian club Udinese and has also secured the permanent transfer of promising 21-year-old Frenchman Arnold Mvuemba, who arrived on loan last January, with a £1.5m payment to French side Auxerre.
But moves to bolster his strike force have so far run aground and it now looks imperative he completes the proposed £6m bid for Nugent who was at Fratton yesterday for more talks after initially asking for time to consider his options.
Despite the additional arrival of defender Martin Crainie from neighbouring Southampton, however, Campbell has pledged his future to Portsmouth and is ready to fight for his place.
He says the summer break has cured the damaged ankle which made him miss the critical last three games of last season and fears of an operation have been summarily dismissed.
After the trials and tribulations in his latter days at Highbury, he regards joining Portsmouth as a welcome change in his career and insists: “I’ve really enjoyed it.
“I’m still playing against the same top sides I always played against and I want to go on doing it for as long as possible.
“It is quite simple. I just love playing football, love winning games at this level because I think I was born to work and compete and I’m just going to kick on with it.”
And his hopes of increased fire power at Fratton Park have improved, too, with reports that, as well as the Nugent deal, Pompey are also on the brink of signing Kanu’s Nigerian strike-partner John Utaka, 25, from French club Rennes in another £6m swoop.
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