Pompey set to offload James

Portsmouth are set to lose England keeper David James as the English Premiership strugglers continue to try to rein in costs, media reports said Sunday.

In the week that Dubai-based businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim announced he has completed a takeover of the south coast club, the Mail on Sunday reported that James is to become the latest big name player to leave, following the likes of Peter Crouch, Sylvain Distin and Glen Johnson through the revolving door at Fratton Park.

Negotiations on the exact terms and structure of the sale to Al Fahim have helped to create an atmosphere of uncertainty over the club’s future and, to add to the sense of looming crisis, Pompey have lost their first three league games.

According to the Mail on Sunday, James is set to be sold off to the highest bidder ahead of the transfer window deadline of Tuesday.

The paper said James, 39 and a star of the club’s 2008 FA Cup success, could leave for as little as 1.5million pounds (2 million euros) with Tottenham, Sunderland and Stoke all interested.

Sunday, Portsmouth had a tough meeting to look forward to with big-spending Manchester City as Paul Hart’s side try to climb the table.

James’ situation is somwehat similar to that of Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, his opposite number at City, who last season finally quit Newcastle after a decade at the club.

Shorn of their defensive mainstay, Newcastle were promptly relegated.