Younes Kaboul will snub interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa to join Portsmouth, according to Harry Redknapp.
The Fratton Park boss is confident he has beaten his Premier League rivals to the signature of the Tottenham Hotspur defender.
Kaboul, 22, looked all set to link up with fellow Spurs men Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque at Sunderland after boss Roy Keane agreed fees for all four.
But even though Keane is believed to have met with the French defender, who struggled to find his feet in England after his move to White Hart Lane from Auxerre, there was rival interest from Pompey and Aston Villa.
Now Redknapp believes the FA Cup winners are in pole position and could finalise a deal reported to be worth around £3million in the next 48 hours.
He told the Daily Star: "Sunderland and Villa both made fantastic offers, but the lad decided he wanted to come to Portsmouth.
"Hopefully the deal will be completed over the weekend. Younes is a good, young player with bags of potential. He will be a great addition to the squad."

Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fuller and Sorensen
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fanzone highlights
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fanzone blogs
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Pulis
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Shreeves' blog
Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth - McInally
Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth - Allardyce
Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth - Hart
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| Tuesday 1st December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Burnley |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 16th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:00 | West Ham vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs West Ham |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man City vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Portsmouth |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Stoke |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 0 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Carlisle 1 - 3 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 3 Bolton | |
| Sunday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Man City | |
| Tuesday 25th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 1 Hereford | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 0 Rangers | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Benfica 4 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Monday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Eastleigh 1 - 6 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Basingstoke 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 21st July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Havant and W 2 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Hull City | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 13 | 11 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Preston North End fan Hazel Fox was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson can't separate Bolton and Blackburn - but thinks Stoke will see off Portsmouth.
Paul Hart played down the injury to David James prior to Portsmouth's 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Sunday.
Paul Hart says he cannot criticise his side for their performance against Stoke despite losing 1-0.
Mainz 05 striker Aristide Bance admits that he is interested in a move to the Premier League.
Stoke collected all three points against Portsmouth thanks to a late strike from Ricardo Fuller.
Kevin-Prince Boateng is happy to have put a troubled spell with Tottenham behind him.