Portsmouth have completed the signing of goalkeeper David James from Manchester City in a deal worth £1.2million.
The signing was completed just 48 hours after World Cup centre-back Sol Campbell arrived at Fratton Park.
James, 36, who signed a two-year contract after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical, is likely to take over the mantle of Pompey number one from former Republic of Ireland keeperDean Kiely, who moved from Charlton for £500,000 last January and starred in the south coast club's great escape from relegation.
But manager Harry Redknapp wants much more than another Barclays Premiership survival battle for his team this season.
Redknapp only signed a three-year deal himself in May after establishing that new owner, Franco-Russian billionaire Alexandre Gaydamak, would grant him millions to improve a squad which has struggled for three years to stay in the top-flight.
James becomes Redknapp's fourth signing of the summer, following Glen Jonson, David Thompson and Campbell to the club.
But the former West Ham boss is thinking big and still wants to make other signings before Pompey start the league season tomorrow week at home to Blackburn.
A string of bids for top names like Nicolas Anelka, Jermain Defoe and Stilian Petrov have not come off but Redknapp is not afraid to go for top targets and his next will be almost certainly be another striker.
Lomana LuaLua (ankle) and record signing £4.4million Benjani Mwaruwari (thigh) are injured ahead of the new campaign — and could be supplemented by several options.
Former Ajax, Inter Milan and Arsenal forward Kanu was at Fratton Park last night with his agent watching the friendly against Porto — and is available on a free transfer after being released by West Brom at the end of last season.
But Redknapp will not be afraid to be more ambitious and is also in talks with 30-year-old Kanu's fellow Nigerian Obafemi Martins at Inter Milan, after watching him in a friendly at Tottenham last week.
He would become Pompey's new record signing at around £11million if a deal could be arranged.
The 21-year-old, who scored nine Serie A goals last season, asked for a transfer after Hernan Crespo's arrival from Chelsea at the San Siro this week.
Ghana's £7 million-rated midfielder Sully Muntari also remains high on the wishlist of Redknapp, who admitted: "I like him. He is big and strong and very attack-minded."
Campbell and James represent a good week's work for the Portsmouth chief, though, and it looks a marvellous move for the goalkeeper, whose partner and children live in the south.
Ironically both were dropped from new manager Steve McClaren's first England squad to face Greece — but that does not faze Redknapp, who still rates James "the best keeper in the country" and Campbell "an outstanding centre half."
