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Harry to beg, borrow or steal players to avoid credit crunch

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp plans to live up to his wheeler dealer image, by showing the footballing world that you don't have to have large amounts of cash to build a good team, and that the Credit Crunch may actually be an advantage for managers like him.

In past seasons Harry has normally found a loan or free signing or two that has changed Pompey's season, with the demands of the upcoming season and the lack of cash, Redknapp is looking forward to doing such miracles again.

Talking to The News Redknapp said 'Any mug can go and buy loads of players for £20m or £30m.
'My missus could go and buy Kaka.

'We could all buy the best players in the world if we had an open chequebook, but it's called managing – I have to manage this football club.

'I love looking around for loans – I enjoy that side of the job and I love that part of the game.

'That's ma-naging.

'So I will beg, borrow and steal one or two bodies who might do well for us.'

Even though Pompey have spent big, it seems Harry will need to trim the budget, but insists he has no issues with the prudence being shown by owner Sacha Gaydamak.

The Blues boss said: 'I've had great backing and I'm happy with the money I've had to spend.

'The owner can't just keep pumping millions and millions of pounds in.
'We've got to balance the books.

'I had to sell Pedro and I accept that – I'm not upset about it.
'I didn't want to lose him, but those are the rules of the game.

'If I don't like it, I shouldn't be at Portsmouth.

'Clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea don't have to do that – good luck to them.'

He said: 'If I could go and buy a good right-winger now, I would do.
'If I had the money, I would buy Shaun Wright-Phillips.
'But that's out of the question now, I haven't got that sort of money.

'So I'll try to go and find someone like Kanu.
'Everyone told me he was finished, but I didn't care what anyone else thought.

'Now I'm looking to find another two or three Kanus in different positions, who can come in here and do a job for us.'

At least Pompey target Appiah potentially being available on a Free transfer Redknapp seems to be ready to do his dealing again.

One reported deal that is unlikely to happen through is the much rumoured loan deal for Shawn Wright Phillips. The player has recently denied wanting to leave Chelsea, and even if the loan deal could be agreed it is my understanding that Premier League rules on loan players would not allow this to happen as my understanding is we can only loan 2 players from Premier League teams and a maximum of 1 player from each Premier League team and we already have striker Ben Sahar from Chelsea.

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