Portsmouth are closing in on Lyon midfielder Alou Diarra.

Harry Redknapp, who replaced Perrin at Fratton Park when he returned from an ill-fated spell at Southampton in December 2005, has recently splashed a club-record £7million fee on Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari.

And he would have to pay close to £5million for Frenchman Diarra, who is thought to have become disillusioned at Lyon since former Liverpool chief Gerard Houllier quit two weeks ago.

Bayern Munich are also thought to be interested in Diarra, 25, but Redknapp, who was scouting in France at the weekend, has confirmed: "He has the type of presence in midfield I like."