Defoe heading back to Tottenham

England international striker Jermain Defoe is set to leave Portsmouth and rejoin Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, the London club said on Tuesday.

A fee has been agreed on what is thought to be a five-year contract and the 26-year-old Defoe only needs to clear a medical to clinch the deal.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie had been in talks over the weekend to negotiate a transfer fee in the region of 15million pounds (16million euros).

“Personal terms have been agreed and the striker will undergo a medical,” a statement from Spurs said.

Tottenham boss Redknapp bought Defoe for Pompey in the 2008 January window and his return had been suggested since the change of manager at White Hart Lane two months ago.

He went on a run of eight goals in his first seven games for Portsmouth and has added nine goals this season so far.

“I wouldn’t have sold him if I was manager at Portsmouth and Tottenham came back in,” Redknapp admitted. “I’d be keeping him.”

Redknapp has prioritised a striker and a left-sided midfielder in the current trasnfer window, with Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing also subject of a bid from Spurs.

Ghana international midfielder Stephen Appiah is on trial at White Hart Lane this week and could sign until the end of the season.