Harry's game on Berkovic if he can afford him

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp admitted he would love to sign Manchester City's unsettled Israeli international midfielder Eyal Berkovic but warned he might not have the funds for it.

Redknapp revealed he was a great admirer of the 31-year-old ever since he played for him at West Ham but believed the transfer fee and the player's wages would be too much.

"I would be interested," Redknapp told the BBC.

"The problem I have is that Manchester City would want a fee and then there are the players wages to consider.

"At the moment I'm struggling, it would be difficult and there will be nothing happening on Tuesday.

"I had him at West Ham and he is a top-class footballer. I like him but whether we can afford him is another matter.

"There are lots of players I would like to sign but it is a question of cash."

Berkovic's agent and possibly the most important powerbroker in European football Pini Zahavi said the former Celtic and Blackburn Rovers star had grown disenchanted at City and the final straw had been not being offered an extension to his present contract, which has two years to run.

"Eyal is not happy at the club and his relationship with manager Kevin Keegan is not good," said Zahavi, who orchestrated the deal that saw Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich buy Chelsea for 140million pounds.

"Portsmouth are interested in him as he has an excellent relationship with Harry Redknapp and would be happy to move if the clubs agree a fee."

Were the injury-prone Israeli to go it would leave City woefully short of creative midfielders as Algerian international Ali Benarbia quit last week and has since joined Al-Rayyan of Qatar.

"If something else happens to Eyal we don't have any cover for that creative role, which you need at home more than away," said Keegan.

Berkovic had a less productive season last year with City, scoring just twice in 29 appearances in all competitions having netted seven times in his debut campaign for the side in 31 matches.

The injury-prone playmaker also picked up an injury in last Friday's 2-1 victory over Dutch giants Feyenoord.