Pompey confirm Defoe enquiry

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been told by Portsmouth he will have to make a "a very, very big offer" for Jermain Defoe.

The south-coast club have confirmed they have received a tentative enquiry about the England striker but that no deal is in place for his transfer from Fratton Park in January.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp revealed at the weekend a rival club looked set to thwart his attempt to re-sign former White Hart Lane favourite Defoe, while Villa boss O'Neill insisted yesterday he had not bid for the 26-year-old.

"We have had a tentative enquiry about Jermain and told the club concerned he was not for sale unless it was for a very, very big offer," said Pompey's executive chairman Peter Storrie.