Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is adamant French midfielder Lassana Diarra will not leave the club, despite rumoured interest from Tottenham in the £10m-rated player. (Daily Telegraph)

Diarra is a quality player who didn’t really get a good shot at a regular first-team spot at either Chelsea or Arsenal, so both sides didn’t get to see the 23-year-old at his best. His burst of pace and quick thinking all over the pitch have greatly assisted Pompey since his arrival in January.

Will the Fratton Park outfit be able to offer the French international the level of football a player of his calibre deserves? I am not so sure. Obviously Diarra will be grateful to Harry Redknapp for rejuvenating his flagging career, but how long will this gratitude keep him on the south coast? Would Spurs fans welcome Diarra with open arms?

'Diarra will be grateful to Harry Redknapp for rejuvenating his flagging career, but how long will this gratitude keep him on the south coast?'


Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez seems very keen on bringing in old-fashioned wingers to the club, in order to fuel the elite goalscoring engine that is El Nino. But this latest target would be a big surprise to me, a player who in my opinion is simply not good enough for a club as huge as Liverpool!

''Liverpool, frustrated in their attempt to sign Espanyol winger Albert Riera, could now seek to seal a £12m deal for Middlesbrough wide-man Stewart Downing''.  (Daily Mirror)

Downing has been nearing the exit door at the Riverside at various stages during the six years since his Boro debut. Now it appears the 23-year-old wants a new challenge. However, I for one would be shocked if that challenge came at Anfield. Do Liverpool fans see Downing as a potential purchase? Or are there other options worth looking into?

Holland’s outstanding performance in Euro 2008 last night has re-opened the race for master midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, with the Hamburg player being heavily linked to the Premier League. Recent speculation has linked the player with a summer move to Chelsea, possibly to link up with compatriot Frank Rijkaard. However, footballpools.com reckons that if the player were to come available surely the majority of the top clubs in the Premier League as well as La Liga would be interested.

Van der Vaart’s new club manager, Martin Jol, said of his star player: “We have to do all we can to keep hold of him. He is one of the best five play-makers in Europe and he dictates the rhythm of Hamburg.”

The Dutch star has all the attributes to be a major hit in the Premier League and with rumours of Frank Lampard leaving the Bridge, he would be a ready-made replacement. Surely a player of this calibre would also interest the likes of Arsenal, who need to replace want-away midfielder Aleksandr Hleb, whilst Spurs may have the bargaining chips to tempt Jol to sell as the former White Hart Lane boss is rumoured to be interested in both Younes Kaboul and Kevin Prince Boateng.

So who wants the £15m rated maestro most? Can Hamburg keep their prize asset? Arsene Wenger revealed his interest in the former Ajax man when he was still plying his trade in the Eredivisie. No doubt if he continues to impress as he did against Italy last night, then his value may go through the roof. But can anyone prise him from Jol’s grasp? Do Arsenal fans rate Rafael highly? Would he suit the Gunners?