Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp admits they'll eventually face a battle to keep star midfielder Lassana Diarra.

Redknapp said: "He's unbelievable, he really is. He's a top, top, top player and yet so easy to deal with, a good little lad who just wants to get on with it.

"Please God, he stays here for a while but, you know, one day he could go on and play for anybody, any of the big clubs in the world.

"He is back in the France team and he played both their games last week. My chief scout (Ian Broomfield) went to the Serbia game and said he was fantastic.

"Why they didn't play him (in Euro 2008) was a big surprise to me. I really don't know the answer to that one but now I'm hearing that (Lillian) Thuram is saying that he'll be the next French captain - yes, he's that good.

"I think we signed him for four years and he's tied up on contract here but you know what happens. If they want to go they usually go."