According to sources in Egypt, a deal could be tied up for the 26-year-old this week.
Both Pompey and El Zamalek are said to be edging closer to common ground over the fee to take the former Wigan man on loan for a year.
Pompey are willing to stump up around £1m for Zaki – having originally wanted to pay £500,000 – with Zamalek understood to be holding out for £1.25m.
The Blues desperately need striker reinforcements after selling Peter Crouch to Spurs last week in a £9m deal.
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