Redknapp in talks with Newcastle: Pompey boss on verge of £5m-a-year move to North-East

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Portsmouth gave him permission to speak to the St James' Park club after another day of drama, with Redknapp finally deciding he wants the job.

Redknapp was officially shopping in London, but Sportsmail can reveal that he was at the offices of Paul Kemsley, the best friend of Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, in Bond Street thrashing out personal terms.

Scroll down to read more:

Clap hands, here comes Harry: Redknapp leaves training yesterday before opening talks with Newcastle

Ashley is not due back from a business trip to Asia until Tuesday but wants Redknapp to take charge of the team for the FA Cup replay against Stoke 24 hours later.

Portsmouth are demanding significantly more than the £1.5million compensation clause believed to be in Redknapp's contract, but it appears that the financial settlement is all that may prevent the 60-year-old taking the biggest challenge of his career.

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is resigned to losing Redknapp, who is unlikely to take the team for training today or travel to Sunderland for tomorrow's Premier League game.

Agent Dennis Roach is believed to have been masterminding the deal during the London talks.

Redknapp, who is expected to sign a four-year contract at £5m a year, wanted guarantees on transfer budget and backroom staff from Ashley before agreeing to take on one of the toughest jobs in football.

The manager took Portsmouth players for training yesterday but did not give his usual pre-match press conference. He left their Eastleigh training complex shortly after 12.30pm with Storrie 'to speak to a transfer target'.

Redknapp has a clause in his contract that allows him to talk to other clubs and although Storrie has been actively trying to persuade him to stay, the club's owner Alexandre Gaydamak has been strangely silent.

Pompey are already lining up replacements and Redknapp's assistant Tony Adams is understood to be one of the names under consideration. First-team coach Joe Jordan will be in charge at Sunderland.

Nigel Pearson will take the Newcastle reins for the second time against Manchester United at Old Trafford this evening and expects to have Emre and James Milner back. Former United striker Alan Smith will captain Newcastle.