Portsmouth want £15 million for striker Jermain Defoe.
The Sun says the England striker has the hump after being axed by boss Tony Adams for last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal, which has alerted both Aston Villa and his former club Tottenham.
Defoe, 26, would prefer a move back to White Hart Lane for a reunion with Harry Redknapp, who only signed him for Pompey in January.
But Spurs are unwilling to match Pompey's demands, after selling the player for just £8m 12 months ago.
Redknapp has already had two bids rejected for West Ham's Craig Bellamy - and is desperate to sign a proven Premier League goalscorer to fire the Londoners clear of the relegation zone.
Now he will test Portsmouth's resolve to hang on to Defoe - aware of the perilous financial position at Fratton Park.