Cats snub lets Pompey in

Portsmouth appear to have won the race to sign Spurs defender Younes Kaboul after the Frenchman rejected a switch to Sunderland.

Black Cats boss Roy Keane has been trying to pull off a raid on White Hart Lane for four players - Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque and Kaboul.

And while Tainio and Chimbonda have already made the move to the Stadium of Light, Kaboul will not be joining his old team-mates.

The former France Under-21 captain's agent Rudy Raba told the Echo: "He wants to go to Portsmouth - he would prefer to go there.

"Sunderland wanted to know within 24 hours but, while he is thankful to Roy Keane for his interest, the boy has decided he does not want to go there."

Aston Villa have also been monitoring developments but Pompey chief Harry Redknapp will now firm up his interest in order to land his man.