On this day: Portsmouth poised to pull off Sol Campbell swoop - Sylvain Distin and David James on way too

The England defender had had a medical after telling Harry Redknapp he wanted to come to Fratton Park.

Pompey were tying up a one-year deal for the 31-year-old, with the option of another 12 months.

And he was set to start the season for Pompey against Blackburn in a new central-defensive partnership with Sylvain Distin.

Manchester City’s skipper was about to agree to join Pompey in a £4m switch.

At the time, manager Harry Redknapp believed Campbell’s arrival would spark a rash of new signings

And he was is trying hard to lure David James to the south coast, too – after describing him as England’s best goalkeeper.

The arrival of Paul Merson in 2002 and Teddy Sheringham a year later ignited remarkable seasons at Fratton Park – promotion to the Premiership, and survival the season after.

Pompey would pay Campbell around £40,000-a-week to be the next catalyst.

Redknapp had used all his persuasive powers to convince the free agent and former Arsenal centre-half that Pompey was the right place for him despite offers from elsewhere.

He told The News back then: ‘Sol wants to come to Pompey. He knows all about the club and its fans. I like him a lot.

‘I think there will be a few signings made this week. We’ll get there.

‘I like Distin very much. We’re trying to get that one completed.

‘I like the pair of them – Distin and Campbell. We’ve already got some good players at the back, but we need a couple more.

‘We need to strengthen. We need competition for places – there’s nothing wrong with that. We almost need two players for every position.’