Portsmouth executive Peter Storrie has revealed that Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe was interested in a move to Fratton Park but was forced to stay at Spurs after the club rejected their £6million bid.

Storrie said: “We put in a bid of £6million for Defoe and it was rejected. He wanted to come and that shows we are a club moving in the right direction.”

Defoe’s former manager Harry Redknapp, who is now in charge at Fratton Park, has recently admitted his desire to sign striker saying: “I’d love to get him here.”