JERMAIN DEFOE does not intend to play for Portsmouth again after receiving death threats from angry fans, incensed by his desire to rejoin Harry Redknapp at Tottenham.
Spurs are not prepared to pay the £20m that Portsmouth are asking for their England striker, but Juventus last night joined Manchester City in declaring their interest.
Defoe joined Portsmouth from Tottenham for £7.5m a year ago, and has scored 15 goals in 31 Premier League appearances. He was an automatic selection until Tony Adams took over from Redknapp in October. The two fell out over Defoe’s omission from the team that played Arsenal last weekend. Spurs initially tabled a £10m bid for the player, which was rejected. Chairman Daniel Levy increased that by £2m last night, but with no success.
Defoe, meanwhile, is in limbo. His intention to leave has provoked a vitriolic response from supporters, and he is much concerned by their ability to obtain his mobile phone number and make threats not only to him, but to his family. He was not prepared to comment last night, for fear of exacerbating the situation, but friends confirmed that he was “upset” by “sick” threats similar to those made to Redknapp when he quit the club to manage rivals Southampton.
Defoe made himself unavailable for the FA Cup tie at home to Bristol City yesterday, which ended 0-0, citing a heavy cold. He has told associates that, in view of the fans’ animosity, he cannot envisage playing for the club again.
The 26-year-old’s best hope of a move is either to Manchester City, who lost 3-0 to Nottingham Forest, or Juventus, whose manager Claudio Ranieri is an admirer. Portsmouth refused to confirm the Italian club’s initial contact, but did admit that a foreign club were interested.
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