Pompey wanted Kanoute

The Frenchman was snapped up by Spurs in a £3.5 million deal from West Ham during the close season, which saw Matthew Etherington head in the opposite direction.

Pompey manager Redknapp is a huge admirer of Kanoute's enigmatic talent, having brought the 25-year-old to England in March 2000.

Redknapp initially signed the gangly forward on loan from Lyon before making the move permanent during his stint in charge at West Ham.

He was keen to be reunited with Kanoute during the summer but did not have the funds available to rival Spurs for the player's signature.

Redknapp accepts he does not have a sizeable transfer war chest to buy the players he wants but is happy to deploy his talent for scouring the bargain basement to bring in reinforcements.

"The market has changed a lot but I have always been used to looking for bargains and free transfers so maybe that gives me an advantage," Redknapp told The Mirror.

"I would love to be able to afford to go out and buy a brilliant young player like Joe Cole like Chelsea were able to do, but we just can't afford it.

"I wanted to sign Freddie Kanoute but we couldn't afford him."