• Redknapp worked with him at Pompey and Southampton • Sunderland have agreed £12m fee for the striker

Harry Redknapp has confirmed he wants to sign Peter Crouch from Portsmouth. The Tottenham Hotspur manager faces competition from Sunderland and Fulham but hopes his experience of working with the striker at Southampton and Portsmouth will enable him to convince the England international to move to White Hart Lane.

Portsmouth have agreed a £12m fee with Sunderland for Crouch, who has held talks with the Wearside club but is believed to want to play in London. He is due to make a decision on his future this week after talks with all interested parties.

"It seems Portsmouth want to sell and if that is the case, Peter is a player I'm definitely interested in," Redknapp said. "He has played for me twice before and I know what a good player he is.

"I have not spoken to Peter Storrie [the executive chairman] at Pompey and there are other clubs involved but it seems like a bit of a free -for-all. I'm looking to make one or two signings and he is someone I would love to bring in."

If Crouch joins Tottenham he would have the chance to re-form his partnership with Jermain Defoe, which was a success at Portsmouth. Defoe said: "Peter is a great person to play alongside and it would be fantastic if we can get him."