MUNTARI COULD PROMPT POMPEY SPREE

Muntari - to join Inter.

Sulley Muntari's impending £12million move to Inter Milan will give Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp the funds he needs to mount bids to bring Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nicky Shorey to Fratton Park.

Redknapp's squad is beginning to look like an England 'B' line-up as he already has David James, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe before recently adding striker Peter Crouch, his £11million recruit from Liverpool.

Now Ghana midfielder Muntari is set to clinch a switch to Jose Mourinho's Inter after saying his goodbyes to Pompey team-mates and having a medical in Italy on Friday.

The fee - representing a profit of around £5million on the figure paid to Udinese last summer - is expected to be ploughed straight back into Redknapp's rebuilding plans, minus an agreed percentage which Muntari's former club Udinese are due as part of a clause in the transfer last summer.

And it means the Pompey manager has sufficient funds again to make a realistic move for Chelsea winger Wright-Phillips who, along with Crouch, has been his prime target all summer.

Redknapp is hopeful Chelsea will take £9million for the former Manchester City player they signed for more than twice that figure - or at least let him out on a year-long loan.

And that could leave enough cash left over to swoop for relegated Reading's left-back Shorey, who is keen to return to the Premier League spotlight, although Royals chief Steve Coppell is likely to want at least £5million and soon.

Redknapp's desire to bring in Wright-Phillips and Shorey is why Muntari's dream move back to Italy has been sanctioned by Pompey, who have a wealth of midfield talent.

Redknapp said: "Sulley is a terrific player but, like everyone, you have to look at it if you get a very good offer.

"I wanted to keep him and would be sorry to lose him but every player has his price.

"I built the side which got us into the Premier League a few years ago from the money Peter Crouch brought in when I sold him first time around to Aston Villa.

"Sometimes an offer is too good to turn down, no matter who the player is. I like Sulley but that's how it is."

Muntari told Sky Sports: "Harry has developed my game and has become like a father to me but when a club like Inter come calling you have to listen.

"I love him and I love the Portsmouth fans but I missed an opportunity once to join a big club a few years ago (he was on trial at Manchester United but terms could not be agreed) and I don't want to miss it again."

Redknapp, who will offer young Gambian free agent OJ Krumah a contract after a successful trial at Fratton Park, has plenty of cover for Muntari in midfield with Lassana Diarra, Niko Kranjcar, Papa Bouba Diop and Pedro Mendes, whom he has vowed not to sell despite offers.

But former Fulham and Tottenham player Sean Davis, who started the first 14 Premier League matches last season until a foot injury and was omitted from the FA Cup final squad despite regaining fitness in March, could be sold to raise more funds.

Meanwhile, Pompey have left the south coast for a weekend in Nigeria where they will play national champions Kano Pillar tomorrow and fellow tourists Manchester United on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield clash at Wembley in three weeks.

Inevitably, it is also a bid to tap into the burgeoning West African soccer market and Kanu, Pompey's Nigerian striker whose goals won the FA Cup, is expected to sign his new one-year contract during the trip.