Pompey in late 5m bid to hijack Dunne's move to Tottenham

Dunne has only a year to run on his contract at Eastlands but the FA Cup winners are plotting another big summer of squad strengthening ahead of next season's UEFA Cup campaign.

Danko Lazovic of Serbia is closed down on goal by the Republic of Ireland's Richard Dunne during their friendly at Croke Park

It signifies a determination of Pompey manager Harry Redknapp and his chairman and owner Alexandre Gaydamak to make further progress in the Barclays Premier League and close the gap on the Big Four.

Spurs are one of their direct competitors in this quest and it will be viewed as a major coup on the south coast if Redknapp can beat them in the race for the Republic of Ireland international.

Portsmouth's quest for Dunne, 28, leaves a question mark over the future of Sol Campbell at Fratton Park. The 33-year-old former England defender was outstanding last season but has only one year left on his current contract and has regularly spoken about his desire to end his playing career abroad.

Having backed Redknapp's request for the funds to move for Dunne, who could rekindle his partnership with former City defender Sylvain Distin, Gaydamak will also release cash for his manager to pursue England internationals Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Crouch, 27, appears certain to leave Liverpool and Pompey are confident of outbidding rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle. They are unlikely to match the £15m valuation of Rafa Benitez but hope to bring the striker back for a second spell at the club for closer to £10m.

Chelsea will want a similar figure for 26-year-old Wright-Phillips. He rarely featured under Avram Grant towards the end of last season but he cost the club £21m from Manchester City, nearly three years ago.

Having spent so much of his career shopping for bargain cast-offs and has-beens, Redknapp suddenly finds himself shopping for established internationals like Dunne, Crouch and Wright-Phillips in the prime of their careers. Jermain Defoe joined the club in January.

Dunne, who has also been linked with Newcastle this summer, appeared set to sign for Spurs after talks following the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win in a friendly international against Colombia at Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Juande Ramos had identified the experienced Irishman as someone to forge a sold understanding with Jonathan Woodgate. Ramos remains unconvinced by Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul and cannot rely on the fitness of captain Ledley King.

City are resigned to losing Dunne and are braced for attempts to prise youngsters Micah Richards and Michael Johnson away during a time of managerial instability.

The departure of manager Sven Goran Eriksson is expected to be confirmed this weekend after he agreed a compensation package with chairman Thaksin Shinawatra, which will clear the way for the Swede to be named as Mexico boss next week.