TWO MILLION KITTY FOR REDKNAPP - FOR NOW

Last updated : 16 April 2002 By
Two players, £10million, not bad for two players who cost £1.2million between them. These are the sums that could be staring Milan Mandaric back in the face if Celtic move forward with their heavy interest in Gary O'Neil and actually make a bid that the club won't be able to refuse.

This of course could change Redknapp's reported £2million transfer kitty, but as of now, the new gaffer is going to have to partake in some of his legendary 'wheeling and dealing' in order to pick up players of the right qualitity to move this club forward.

Redknapp is on record as saything that he wants 'six or seven' new players and some of his targets are already public knowledge. Eddie Howe has been signed and Scott Wilson could sign within the next month. Kalla could be picked up in the summer on a free transfer - with his Spanish side already saying that the deal is done. Nigel Winterburn, Darryl Powell and Sasa Illic could drop down from the Premiership suddenly transforming Pompey into an ageing, defensive side.

Pompey's only spark of creativity, Prosinecki is expected to leave after the Man City game and he will be joined by Mladen Rudonja in the summer. Derry, as this site told you last week, is expected to sign for Millwall, Palace or Everton in close summer for a sum of £1million.

This leaves the club desperately short of any real class. Harry Redknapp has been quoted as saying he has a few 'class' Premiership players ready to drop down, sparking highly unlikely rumours that Di Canio could be ready to leave his West Ham nightmare. One of his targets has apparently been snapped up by a Champions League club leaving hope for the future. There is no doubt, however, that it will be his attacking signings that really make or break his first full season in charge.