Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is confident he will sign Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul despite interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa.

Kaboul, 22, looked all set to link up with fellow Spurs stars Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque at Sunderland after boss Roy Keane agreed a fee for all four.

However, Redknapp believes his side are in pole position and could finalise a deal worth around £3 million in the coming days.

He told the Daily Star: "Sunderland and Villa both made fantastic offers, but the lad decided he wanted to come to Portsmouth.

"Hopefully the deal will be completed over the weekend. Younes is a good, young player with bags of potential. He will be a great addition to the squad."

Bosingwa out for three weeks

Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the season after he was ruled out for three weeks with a teared thigh muscle.

The 25-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Porto over the summer, managed just 20 minutes against Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Pharmaceutical before complaining of a thigh injury.

He underwent a scan in Macau on Friday evening and the decision was made to send the Portugal international back to Chelsea's Cobham training ground for treatment.

Chelsea open their league commitments against Portsmouth on August 17.

Valencia will survive, says new president

Valencia's new president Vicente Soriano has said the club's financial problems are not serious enough to force it to sell any of its leading players.

"The situation is difficult, but we are here to improve it," Soriano was quoted as saying in sports daily AS yesterday. "I can assure everyone that no big player is going to leave this club. We will soon be back among the big teams in Europe."

Spanish media has speculated that the club may be forced to sell playes such as Spain internationals David Villa and David Silva to weather its financial crisis.

Aquilani for sale only for the right price

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti told rivals Juventus that they will only be able to capture Alberto Aquilani if they table a good offer for the talented midfielder.

"Aquilani is an important player just like the others, although a little more considering his age and the role he plays within the club. As far as I am concerned, he's staying," he told news agency ANSA.

"Having said that, however, based on the money you can get for them, all players could be sold. If a club comes and pays, you can't do much about it."

Aquilani has yet to agree to a new contract with Roma.

United looking to sign Tevez permanently

Manchester United are expected to make Carlos Tevez a permanent signing before the end of the year.

The European and English champions are believed to be close to agreeing a deal with Tevez's owners, sports investment firm MSI, which will turn his current two-year loan deal into a permanent move.

United chief executive David Gill last week admitted: "We have spoken to Carlos and see him as part of our long-term squad.

"We have been pleased with his first season. He is a good age - a great player and well liked within the team.

"We know what we have to do and what we have to pay. The only issue is that we would have to sort out a long-term contract for him."

A British record transfer fee of between £32 million and £35 million will be needed to make the Argentinian's current loan agreement permanent.

Torino eye Grella sale to increase funds

Torino are expected to sell striker Vincenzo Grella to English club Fulham for four million pounds as they look to generate funds for coach Gianni De Biasi to bring in new players.

Club president Urbano Cairo said that the club had to offload players before starting to strengthen the squad and Austrian Grella seems to be heading the exit door.

The Independent claims that Fulham coach Roy Hodgson has made an official offer of £4m for the 28-year-old former Parma player.

Grella has been in Italy since 1998, spending five seasons at Empoli, two with Ternana in Serie B and three at Parma until joining Torino.

Gravesen set to leave Celtic

Thomas Gravesen spell at Scottish champions Celtic is set to come to an end after the Danish midfielder was told that he did not fit in the plans of coach Gordon Strachan.

Strachan informed Gravesen last week that he is unlikely to feature for the first team again and can look for a new club.

"We tried our best to get a system which suited Thomas and it hasn't worked," said Strachan.

"It was the system to blame, not the player or the club."

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