Harry Redknapp admits he would 'love' to finalise a deal to bring Sulley Muntari to Portsmouth.
The Pompey manager's prolonged pursuit of the Udinese winger appears to be heading towards a positive conclusion.
Muntari's agent told skysports.com last week that a deal for the Ghana international was 'very, very close'.
Portsmouth are likely to splash out a club record fee on the attacker and Redknapp accepts it will be a costly deal.
But Redknapp is also confident that Muntari would inject greater pace into his side as he looks to build on an encouraging season at Fratton Park.
"I like Sulley a lot and we have spoken to his people," Redknapp told the News.
"Peter Storrie has been speaking to them, but I don't know if it has gone any further than that at the moment.
"Of course, I've known about him for a long time. He has a fantastic engine and gets up and down the pitch.
"He is a strong, powerful lad and I'd love to have him here.
"He won't come cheap though."