Here we are then. the long list of players who didn't make it to Fratton Park for one reason or another:
Jerzy Dudek (Goalkeeper, Liverpool, £1.5 million)
The Champions League winner was touted as a possible buy after falling out of favour at Liverpool. Funnily enough, he is still there following Kirkland and Carson going out on loan.
Jussi Jaaskelainen (Goalkeeper, Bolton)
Stupid paper talk with no real solid speculation with the Finn. Unsuprisingly still at Bolton.
Jose Molina (Goalkeeper, Deportivo La Coruna)
Molina was released by Deportivo at the end of last season and was touted as a possible Pompey player on the basis that he was a free agent. The 35 year-old joined Levante although Pompey might be interested in another player Deportivo released; Diego Tristan.
Charles Itandje (Goalkeeper, Lens)
Pompey were reportedly interested in the Lens stopper but instead opted to stay with the Ligue 1 side where he remains first choice.
Olivier Thomert (Midfielder, Lens, £6.8 million)
The left-sided French winger come striker was heavily linked with a move to The Premiership with us and also Manchester City. Last minute snubs for both clubs has resorted in the Laurent Robert like player staying with Lens.
Achille Emana (Midfielder, Toulouse, £2.4 million)
The Cameroon holding midfielder was apparently very close to joining Pompey from Toulouse but work permit problems scuppered the deal. Emana remains at the club we tried to sign him from.
Peter Mate (Defender, Debrecen)
Supposedly one of Hungary's brightest young stars, Mate was linked to Pompey early in the summer when the defence looked very weak but nothing came of it. However, he is playing in the Premiership having joined Reading on loan.
Robert Huth (Defender, Chelsea, £5.5 million)
Huth was continously linked with Pompey over the summer having been surplus to requirements at Chelsea. His valuation took an upturn after the World Cup and eventually Middlesbrough stumped up £6 million for him.
Mirel Radoi (Defender, Steaua Bucharest, £7 million)
Widely regarded as the best player in the Romanian League, Radoi was reportedly going to join Pompey for a record transfer fee. However, the two parties could not agree a fee (apparently around £10 million) and the deal was off. Radoi is still with Steaua Bucharest though with us still short on quality defenders, he could be a January transfer target.
Lee Hendrie (Midfielder, Aston Villa, £1.5 million)
Out of favour at Villa until Randy Lerner's takeover. Still not a first choice player under Martin O'Neill so he could move in January, although I doubt we'll be needing him.
Gareth Barry (Midfielder, Aston Villa, £4.5 million)
The tabloids strongly linked us with Barry and I'm sure even Harry said he had bid for him and he might have been close to joining if it wasn't for Doug Ellis selling up we might have snared him. Under a revived Villa though, Barry is set to sign a new contract at Villa Park.
Nikola Zigic (Striker, Red Star Belgrade, £7 million)
The tall bloke with the girls' name was linked to Pompey before the World Cup. Afterwards, the links tended to die down after a poor international campaign and Harry ended all interest after watching him play badly against Cork City in a Champions League qualifier. Racing Santander eventually took the chance on him.
Andy Johnson (Striker, Crystal Palace, £7 million)
After failing to get to the Premiership with Palace, Johnson was always going to move however Pompey were not prepared to pay "over the odds" for him. Even if we were, I doubt he would have chosen us over Everton and he has already scored 2 goals for his new club. Hardly a Kanu though is he!?
Henri Camara (Striker, Wigan, £5 million)
Strongly linked to Pompey all through the summer but nothing ever materialised. With Toddy going there on loan "as part of a deal", one might wonder if Camara is involved at all, with Harry being a big fan.
Duncan Ferguson (Striker, Everton)
Released by Everton after last season and thankfully has retired so there was no risk of Harry signing him!
Matthew Upson (Defender, Birmingham)
Paper talk, still injured at St. Andrews.
Mamadou Niang (Striker, Marseille)
More paper talk, still at Marseille and has scored one in four games. Hardly Kanu is he?
Diego Forlan (Striker, Villareal, £7-10 million)
Linked to us and Harry expressed his liking for the ex-Manchester United player. A huge fee was touted but I could never see us getting Forlan (thankfully), especially when Barcelona were reportedly interested too. He is still with Villareal.
Stilian Petrov (Midfielder, Celtic, £3.5-7 million)
This long saga dragged on and on, with bids for the Bulgarian constantly being rebuffed by Celtic. Petrov eventually escaped the mickey mouse league (cue more Celtic diatribe) by re-joining Martin O'Neill at Villa.
John Hartson (Striker, Celtic)
Harry had him at West Ham and still rates the guy. Our interest couldn't have been that strong as he opted to play in the Championship with West Brom and scored on his debut.
Curtis Davies (Defender, West Brom, £9 million)
Davies ended all speculation surrounding his future by signing a new contract with the Baggies in the summer. Is he even worth such a huge fee? Only time will tell...
Zoltan Gera (Midfielder, West Brom, £2.5 million)
Gera was rumoured to be part of a huge joint bid also involving Curtis Davies. But nothing happened and he is still with West Brom.
Paolo Di Canio (Striker/Coach, Lazio)
Another of those "Linked to Pompey because he played for Harry" links we grew used to during the summer. Thank god he didn't join as I don't think he'd have been very popular following his antics in Italy. Not to mention he's past it now anyway.
Andres D'Alessandro (Midfielder, VFL Wolfsburg)
Went to Real Zaragoza. Moving swiftly on...
Jermaine Defoe (Striker, Tottenham, £12 million)
The News "sensationally" revealed that Pompey had made a club record bid for the England international in June. Harry denied it and Defoe is still at Spurs despite not being first choice. If he isn't happy come January it's possible we might try and snag him during the winter. Is anyone brave enough to have "DEFOE 10" printed on their home shirt when they are released on Friday?
Alexei Smertin (Midfielder, Dynamo Moscow)
Lazy journalism prompted this link by the BBC and local rag yet again! For the record Smertin is still with Dynamo.
Nicholas Anelka (Striker, Fenerbahce, £8 million)
Heavily linked with us as we looked for a new striker. After some negotiation, he opted to join Bolton Wanderers instead of us. He is quoted as saying he will leave Bolton if they do not make the Champions League this season. I guess he's off next summer then! After reading that, I'm pretty glad the incredible sulk didn't join us as he would have disrupted the strong team spirit here with his ego. Besides, he's no Kanu is he?
Stephen Appiah (Midfielder, Fenerbahce, £7 million)
This deal didn't go through because we were "too slow" apparently and therefore the Ghana star had to stay in Turkey. According to the papers, Appiah has expressed a desire to join Pompey in January instead. We shall see...
Nuno Gomes (Striker, Benfica)
Any links to the 29 year old Portuguese striker were quickly rubbished by Benfica, claiming that he was going nowhere. True to their word, he is still there.
Yakubu (Striker, Middlesbrough, £12 million)
Laughable.... Who needs Yakubu when we've got Kanuuuuu?
Jefferson Farfan (Striker, PSV Eindhoven, £7.5 million)
Pompey had agreed a fee with PSV for their highly rated Peruvian hitman... only for him to change his mind at the last minute! We had to make do with signing Kanu instead...
Heurelho Gomes (Goalkeeper, PSV Eindhoven)
More local rag rubbish...
Sulley Muntari (Midfielder, Udinese, £11 million)
Muntari had claimed to the media that he was 99% sure of joining Pompey and "coach Redknapp". Udinese's chairman assured the Ghana player that the 1% was stronger than the 99% and Muntari remains in Italy. The price tag seemed a bit steep for someone who has had one good World Cup anyway.