Portsmouth manager Tony Adams insists he has not given up on keeping striker Jermain Defoe at Fratton Park despite all signs pointing to the former Tottenham striker returning to his old club after missing Saturday's grim goalless draw with Bristol City in the FA Cup.
Defoe, who is understood to want to rejoin ex-Pompey boss Harry Redknapp back at Spurs despite a reported rival bid from Italian giants Juventus in excess of €20 million, was left on the substitutes' bench last Sunday against Arsenal as Adams opted for a defensive formation in a creditable 1-0 defeat and missed the cup tie altogether with a bout of flu.
The illness conveniently prevented him becoming cup-tied should he move back to White Hart Lane where Tottenham are already through to the fourth round.
Insiders at Pompey are now convinced Defoe will join Lassana Diarra, who has been sold to Real Madrid for a fee of around €20 million, as another star departure during the January transfer window.
But Pompey are adamant the England ace will not leave cheaply. Executive chairman Peter Storrie says the lucrative fee received for Diarra means the cash-strapped FA Cup holders do not immediately need to sell any more players.
And Adams said: "Jermain is still a Portsmouth player and maybe I'll make a point of talking to him on Monday when he returns to training because people often change their minds, don't they.
"It happened here with Joe Jordan (former first-team coach) after Harry left. All the time Joe was going to stay. Then suddenly he went to Spurs, bless him. I'm not going to confirm any bids through the press. All I'm saying is I'm hopeful Jermain will be available for next week's game here against Manchester City and then we'll see about the replay at Bristol."
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