Portsmouth boss Tony Adams hopes to tie up a loan deal for Real Madrid striker Javier Saviola.

The Sun says Adams sees the Argentine international striker, 27, as an ideal replacement for Jermain Defoe.

Saviola joined Real from Barcelona in summer 2007. But he has hardly featured this season and is looking for a move to get some first-team action.

His contract has 18 months to run but with Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo likely to be on his way to Real in the summer, Saviola is sure to be surplus to requirements.

Yet it remains to be seen if the pacy forward would swap Madrid for Fratton Park right now.