Portsmouth have beaten Bolton Wanderers to the signing of Zambia
international striker Collins Mbesuma on a three-year deal, subject
to a work permit.
Mbesuma is rated as one of the hottest properties in African
football, with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Aston Villa among other
clubs linked to the 21-year-old.
Mbesuma was close to joining Bolton but boss Sam Allardyce wanted a
few days to look at the Zambian, who last season scored 35 goals
for South African champions Kaizer Chiefs.
The players agent, Mike Makab, told Portsmouths official website,
www.pompeyfc.co.uk: There were no hard feelings with Bolton and
the manager was great - but they just wanted to look at Collins for
a three or four days.
There was enough interest from other clubs for Collins however and
what with his record and the DVDs that they had there was enough of
his talent on show to simply do a deal.
I think Pompey's gain will be a few other clubs' loss.
The striker is currently in the country on a visa and goes back to
Zambia tomorrow, although the club hope he will be back with them
early next week.
When he is back, Pompey will apply for the work permit and if that
is granted the player will be applying for permission for his
family to come to England.
The deal for Mbesuma goes some way to addressing the need to
replace Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Pompey's top scorer for the past two
seasons who recently completed a £7.5million move to
Middlesbrough.
Manager Alain Perrin completed a deal for former Liverpool defender
Gregory Vignal earlier on Tuesday.
Vignal has signed a two-year deal at Fratton Park and joins
Newcastle pair Laurent Robert and Andy O'Brien and Colombian
midfielder John Viafara among Perrin's new captures.
Vignal arrives on a free transfer but Liverpool, who loaned him
last season to Scottish champions Rangers, are likely to be due a
payment if the left-back makes an agreed number of Premiership
appearances. - premierleague.com