Portsmouth to sell Kaboul to pay wages

(GSM) – Portsmouth are waiting to sell Younes Kaboul to Tottenham in order to use the generated cash to pay the wages of the players and staff at Fratton Park. The two clubs are still in negotiation over the transfer of the French defender.

Pompey are hopeful that the deal can go through soon so that the players will be paid by midnight on January 31 at the latest.

Kaboul, rated at £10 million, was taken to Fratton Park by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp in August 2008 having joined Tottenham the previous summer. It is now clear Redknapp wants to re-sign Kaboul.

“We’re not trying to buy him on the cheap,” Redknapp said. “We’re paying whatever the going rate is for him. I would be keen to bring him back if the deal is right for everybody.”

Spurs are also reportedly in talks over goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has expressed his dismay that he and manager Avram Grant have not been informed of the negotiations.

Asked if he felt his role had become untenable, he said, “In very many ways it probably has.”

Storrie added, “It makes you wonder what one’s doing here at the moment. My love is for the football club and despite what some of the fans may think, it always has been.

“My interest is in what is best for the football club. I’ll always keep that in mind whatever decision we make.

“But one feels aggrieved that over the years some excellent deals have been done in terms of transfers, both in and out. I’d like to think I’m pretty good at getting the right transfer fees.

“If there is a need to sell a player and get a fee then I feel I am the best person for the situation.

“But I knew nothing about it (the Kaboul reports) until Friday morning. I took a call from Avram and was told there were meetings going on at Spurs.”