Monday, January 30, 2006

Pompey and Brum strengthen squads

Portsmouth have continued their spending in the transfer window by signing former Crystal Palace man Wayne Routledge and Ognjen Koroman both on loan deals. Routledge has arrived on a season-long loan from Tottenham - the fourth player this month to move to Fratton Park from White Hart Lane, following Sean Davis, Noe Pamarot and Pedro Mendes.


"Wayne has an awful lot of ability and is still at an age where there is a lot of room for him to become a really great player," said a delighted Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp. "We are crying out for a wide man and to get someone in the mould of Wayne is tremendous and he will really give us the width we have been missing. "There were very encouraging signs against Liverpool and we have now added a bit more quality in a position where we can create a lot more danger in the opposing penalty box."

Serbian midfielder Koroman, 27, has also arrived on loan and he has come in from Russian side Terek Groznyi. Koroman will be the second Serbia & Montenegro international to sign for Pompey this season, although fellow countryman Zvonimir Vukic has just completed a loan move to Partizan Belgrade as things failed to work out for him on the South Coast.

Birmingham have also signed Martin Latka on loan from Slavia Prague until the end of the season. The Czech Republic Under-21 international was thought to be on his way to St Andrews earlier on Monday after Blues beat off competition from Middlesbrough for his signature. Fans are likely to get an early view of the 21-year-old, with manager Steve Bruce set to include the youngster in his squad to face Liverpool on Wednesday.

Out of the three transfers I would think the Routledge one is a smart bit of business by Harry Redknapp. Routledge has been out of favour ever since his move to Spurs and I think that this move will do him the world of good. I have to say I haven't seen Koroman play but I have seen Lakta play and he looks like a decent prospect.