The Frenchman, now 32, is still considered a strong driving force for his national side and would command wages of around £100,000 a week but any deal would have to wait until Inter's new manager Jose Mourinho has got his feet under the table at the San Siro.

A Pompey spokesman said: "We are being linked to one big name after another and it is bound to happen but we are still not commenting."

Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie has admitted Harry Redknapp wants five new signings this summer - at least three of them "top quality" to cope with the new demands of a UEFA Cup campaign and the bid for another top 10 Premier League finish.