PLAYERS IN, PLAYERS OUT: HARRY'S TENURE BEGINS

After constant specualtion, Peter Crouch has finally left Pompey in a big money move to Premiership Aston Villa. Talk of a £3million move have been circulating for a few months now, but it was Fratton Faithful who broke the story on Monday over a deal worth double the expected figure.

Due to the money involved, the Crouch deal looks like sound business - especially with ITV Digital going into administration this afternoon. Crouch left Pompey with the lure of matches against Manchester United and the cream of Europe, but that didn't mean he forgot about Pompey, telling the fans: "I'll see you in the Premiership. I would have liked to have played for Pompey in the Premiership. But it now seems that I will be a year or so ahead of them. But I will be very much looking forward to Pompey joining Villa there. I have really enjoyed playing for the club and the tremendous fans. "

With Crouch leaving, it paves the way for Redknapp to bring in the six or so 'qualitity' players he feels he needs to start next season with. Peter Storrie has revealed the club are looking for a left back, striker and two central defenders and it seems that the defensive players have already been targeted.

Redknapp is interested in Bournemouth boy Howe, whom Tony Pulis was seriously considering when he was the main man at Pompey. Howe would cost around £400,000 but Redknapp is leaving him until after the deadline day so that the talented youngster can concentrate on pulling Bournemouth away from relegation.

The other defender is in action tonight and is a key member of the Cameroon side. Raymond Nkongo Kalla would be available on a Bosman transfer from Spanish Segunda Liga side Extremadura and the new gaffer is keen on the defender's strength:

" There is interest from other clubs, but we're hopeful of tying that one up. He's a monster – 6ft 4in and massively built. He's not the sort of player you'd like to play against."

In midfield Harry Redknapp has moved to strengthen the midfield by signing Mark Summerbell on loan from Middlesbrough. The midfielder goes straight into the squad from Preston. It has also been officially confirmed that Ceri Hughes has joined Cardiff - another story Fratton Faithful broke this week.

And so another chapter in Pompey's history ends but it is clear that the history books will be rewritten very quickly with Redknapp in charge.