Portsmouth appear to have beaten Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Liverpool front-man Peter Crouch, according to reports in the English press.

27-year-old striker Crouch joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2005, but has struggled to hold down a regular first team spot under Reds boss Rafa Benitez during his time at Anfield, and had been heavily linked to join Spurs in a swap plus cash deal, with Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane coming the other way.

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp is believed to have had a bid of £10million excepted for the England International, having had a previous offer of £9million turned down for the tall forward. Liverpool were holding out for £15million, but are willing to sell to raise funds for other transfer targets.

Crouch will link up with Redknapp again at Fratton Park, with it being Redknapp that sold Crouch to Liverpool when he was manager at Southampton for £7million.

This comes at the end of a busy week at Liverpool, with Italian defender Andrea Dossena joining from Udinese and Swiss International Philipp Degen arriving at Anfield from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

Also due to sign shortly is goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, who is close to agreeing a deal to come to Anfield for £3million from Brazilian team Palmeiras. Cavalieri will be Spanish International Pepe Reina’s understudy, leaving England International Scott Carson surplus to requirements after three and a half years at Liverpool.