Liverpool have announced that Portsmouth have been permitted to hold talks with Peter Crouch over a move to Fratton Park.

The Reds accepted fee from the Pompey, whose boss Harry Redknapp had set his sight on reuniting with the England striker for some time now.

Crouch meanwhile, has been keen to secure regular football that he did not get under Rafa Benitez following the arrival of Fernando Torres in particular last summer, and had been linked with Tottenham and Newcastle apart from Pompey.

"We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter," read the statement on Reds’ website.