Sylvain Distin-ed for Pompey?

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However, plans to turn Arnold Mvuemba's loan move into a permanent deal have been stalled by the 20-year-old's £3million price tag.

Confirmation Distin's five-year career at Manchester City is over has boosted Pompey's confidence that they can finally complete a £40,000-a-week deal for the 29-year-old on a free transfer.

The 6ft 4in defender opted to see out the final year of his City contract last summer when Pompey boss Harry Redknapp was hoping to sign him.

Now Distin, signed by City for £4million in 2002 from Paris St Germain after spending a season with Newcastle on loan, insists: "I have enjoyed my time at City but now I feel I have to play somewhere else."

Distin is reported to have turned down approaches from Middlesbrough and Newcastle, preferring to fight for a place in central defence with Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus at Fratton Park.

The scenario is complicated by new Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce's interest in Campbell - and Redknapp's in Titus Bramble, the former Ipswich defender who has been released after five years at the Magpies. But Udinese midfielder Muntari has revealed he cannot wait to play for Pompey.

And he could be the first of Redknapp's targets to arrive in a £7million switch that would shatter the club's transfer record fee of £4.4 million, which they paid to Auxerre in January last year for striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

Ghana World Cup star Muntari says he has agreed personal terms and claims he has been "supporting" Pompey for a year since Redknapp first tried to sign him from the Italian Serie A club. The 22-year-old has already played at Fratton Park - in Sunday's charity game organised by striker Nwankwo Kanu, who has revealed he is also close to signing a new contract.

Muntari told the Portsmouth News: "I'm just waiting for the day to join Portsmouth. I want to play here. To step on this ground, it is like I've started in the Premiership already."