After the heavy opening-day defeat at Chelsea, the Blues boss now has two weeks to rummage around in football's bargain bin for loan deals and free transfers to bolster his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

While the Premier League's financial heavyweights can sign blank cheques to recruit the cream of world football, Redknapp (above) has had to contend with the loss of midfield duo Pedro Mendes and Sulley Muntari to boost the Fratton Park coffers.

But the Pompey manager has proved down the years he is a master in the lower reaches of the transfer market and he even hinted he prefers looking for his bargain buys rather than splashing the cash.

Redknapp said: 'Any mug can go and buy loads of players for £20m or £30m.
'My missus could go and buy Kaka.

'We could all buy the best players in the world if we had an open chequebook, but it's called managing – I have to manage this football club.

'I love looking around for loans – I enjoy that side of the job and I love that part of the game.

'That's ma-naging.

'So I will beg, borrow and steal one or two bodies who might do well for us.'

Redknapp has been instructed to trim the squad to get Pompey's budget back in order, but insists he has no issue with Sacha Gaydamak's (below) prudent policy after the owner's massive investment since arriving at the club.

The Blues boss said: 'I've had great backing and I'm happy with the money I've had to spend.

'The owner can't just keep pumping millions and millions of pounds in.
'We've got to balance the books.

'I had to sell Pedro and I accept that – I'm not upset about it.
'I didn't want to lose him, but those are the rules of the game.

'If I don't like it, I shouldn't be at Portsmouth.

'Clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea don't have to do that – good luck to them.'

Redknapp has already voiced his concerns over a lack of penetration in the side and he is still searching for a pacy right-winger, while he continues to pursue a left-back.

He said: 'If I could go and buy a good right-winger now, I would do.
'If I had the money, I would buy Shaun Wright-Phillips.
'But that's out of the question now, I haven't got that sort of money.

'So I'll try to go and find someone like Kanu.
'Everyone told me he was finished, but I didn't care what anyone else thought.

'Now I'm looking to find another two or three Kanus in different positions, who can come in here and do a job for us.'

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