Pompey - Defoe's not ours, yet - Sport in brief

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Pompey are confident that Defoe's transfer, and that of Benjani to Manchester City, will go through when the Premier League complete their investigation over why forms from City to register Benjani did not arrive in time to beat the January transfer deadline.

A Pompey spokesman explained: "The Defoe transfer was done as an initial loan because of time restraint. The full documents will be signed and registered this week and this is a standard method when you have little time."

Defoe and boss Harry Redknapp seemed blissfully unaware of all this after the former Tottenham and West ham striker kept up his record of scoring on debuts for different clubs with a 64th minute leveller which prevented Chelsea setting a club record of 10 straight wins - and a 10th consecutive win over Pompey on Saturday.

Redknapp said: "I honestly could not tell you the exact details but (at five minutes to midnight on Thursday) the two deals were dependent on each other with us getting £9million for Benjani and spending it on Defoe.

"I feel for Benjani because at the moment he seems to be the big loser in all this, but hopefully it will all be sorted out on Monday and I think he will end up as a Manchester City player.

"If not, from a greedy football manager's point of view, I'd be delighted to get Benjani back. I didn't want to lose him in the first place but, of course, I had to because it is good business to sell a 29-year-old and get in a lad of 25 who is always going to get you goals.

"The owner has spent a lot of money here already. He's been fantastic for me and it wouldn't be fair on him if he has to spend more now (with nothing coming back)."