HARRY REDKNAPP wants to bring Paul Merson to Pompey. The 34-year-old Aston Villa star is seen as the perfect replacement for Robert Prosinecki.
But it could hinge on whether Prosinecki's £50,000-a-week move to Grampus Eight goes through. Prosinecki is reported to have told a Croatian newspaper that the deal has fallen through. But Grampus Eight and sources in Croatia insist talks are still g
oing ahead.
Redknapp is a big admirer of Merson whom he could land on a free transfer but Merson would have to take a pay cut.
And it is understood boss Graham Taylor is ready to let the former England international leave Villa Park.
Redknapp has to convince Merson to drop out of the Premiership after a career at Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Villa. But he did it for a season to fire Boro to promotion in 1998.
Prosinecki's departure would create space for Merson, who has scored 19 goals in 142 games for Villa since a £6.75m move from the Riverside in 1998.
His wage demands would be big possibly even larger than Prosinecki's £20,000 a week, even after a pay cut.
Prosinecki has yet to finalise his three-year switch to Japan and reports from Croatia yesterday suggested the deal had collapsed.
Prosinecki, in Croatia pondering his future, was today unavailable for comment.
But his wife Vlatka said: 'It is true that the deal has not yet been completed, but it is not off. There is more negotiating to be done before a decision can finally be made.'
