How close Portsmouth were to signing Didier Drogba under Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp was great at finding bargains at Portsmouth.
Under his management, the South Coast club brought in multiple stars who would go on to make history at Pompey.
The addition of Jermain Defoe at Portsmouth proved to be masterful, with the striker having a short but clinical spell at Fratton Park.
However, Redknapp almost made an even better deal, with Pompey pursuing Didier Drogba under his watch upon their promotion to the Premier League.
Didier Drogba was in discussions over a move to Portsmouth for £2m
Drogba is no doubt one of the best Premier League players of all time.
The striker was part of a super team at Chelsea and won four league titles and a Champions League across two different spells.
Therefore, it might surprise many Pompey fans that they were close to signing Drogba while he was at Guingamp.
After Redknapp had guided Portsmouth to the Premier League, the manager was on the hunt for a striker.
According to The News on 19th November 2022, back in 2003, they were looking at Drogba as a potential addition.
- Drogba impressed in France before he move to England
- The striker had previously been a defender before converting
- Portsmouth eventually opted to sign Teddy Sheringham
Redknapp had twice crossed the Channel to watch the 25-year-old in action for his side Guingamp.
Talks were taking place with his agent over a move for a reported fee of around £2million, and they had advanced after his brace past Lyon.
However, after it became clear that a total package including his wages could cost closer to £4m, this was deemed too high for then-Pompey owner Milan Mandaric.
Then, around a year later, Drogba would get his move to the Premier League, joining Chelsea for £24m and finding further success at Marseille.
Portsmouth have a heartbreaking record of missing out on Premier League legends
Unfortunately, Drogba isn’t the only Premier League legend that Pompey have narrowly missed out on.
Sergio Aguero was once touted to move to Portsmouth before their financial crisis in the 2009/10 campaign.
Yaya Toure was also scouted by Portsmouth under Tony Adams before he eventually became too expensive.
Many are right to wonder how Pompey’s future may have changed if they had got even one of these players through the door.
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