On this day: Portsmouth back in the market for striker to return from Middlesbrough

The player’s agent believed the Blues haven’t got the money to see through their interest in the £12m-rated Middlesbrough front-man.

It came as Harry Redknapp finally landed Kanu, who signed a new deal thrashed out to keep him at Fratton Park.

Pompey had sounded out Boro about bringing Yakubu back to Fratton Park.

Redknapp was still keen to add another striker despite ending the protracted saga over Kanu’s future.

The previous season’s top scorer trained the day before after seemingly resolving his contract problems.

But Redknapp thought he was still a player light up front after deciding to use John Utaka mainly as a wide man.

Pompey had been in touch with their rivals in the north east and deals involving players as well as cash have been mentioned.

Yakubu’s agent Barry Silkman believed Pompey would not have the cash left in the kitty to buy the striker after spending £23m during the summer.

Silkman said: ‘Yakubu will not come cheap. I honestly believe Pompey don’t have the money to pay for him.

‘They have spent a lot already. I don’t think they have got it left.

‘I know Harry loves Yakubu. He’s desperate for a goalscorer, and, after Thierry Henry, Yakubu’s got the best goal ratio in the Premier League.

‘Portsmouth haven’t made a concrete bid for Yakubu, but I would say they have made more than an inquiry.

‘The problem is, the season is not far away and it costs a lot of money to replace a player like Yakubu.

‘Maybe Portsmouth thought the price would go down the closer it got to the season. But Middlesbrough will look at the money Portsmouth have spent for David Nugent, Sulley Muntari and John Utaka and think Yakubu is worth more. That’s where the problem begins.

‘He is proven to score a goal every two games in the Premier League. Players like that are hard to find.’

Yakubu would instead complete a move to Everton.