Villa lead defender race

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp claims Aston Villa have edged ahead in the race to sign Spurs defender Younes Kaboul.

The Pompey chief is trying to bolster his defence and looked to be in pole position for Kaboul after he snubbed Sunderland. But Redknapp admits he must sell before he can buy which could allow Martin O'Neill a free run on Kaboul and and the Reading defender Nicky Shorey.

He told The News: "Villa are still in front for Kaboul. They are also about to take Shorey. I was interested in Shorey so I'm disappointed, but we are going to have to sell one or two to do something. It's not a bottomless pit after all.

"You need to sell, really, to bring someone in. That is how it is and how it should be, it's not a problem."