Sulley Muntari-On his way back to Italian Football?

[Buddha14]

Paper Talk has suggested that he is heading to Juventus for 12 Million Pounds.

I dont like it one bit he has been great for us offensively and defensively but if he does go then i wish him luck. Still remember him for the penalty he scored against United

[Lemmy]

Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari is expected to complete a £12.7m move to Inter Milan on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Ghana international has agreed a four-year contract with the Italian champions.

The signing suggests that Inter boss Jose Mourinho has given up hope of signing Frank Lampard this summer.

Mourinho had been desperate to land an attacking central midfielder - Lampard was his first choice, with Muntari regarded as the best alternative.

Portsmouth signed Muntari from Udinese for £7m in May 2007 and he was an ever-present in their first team last season, scoring seven goals.

Last week Pompey boss Harry Redknapp said he was very reluctant to allow the Ghana international to leave Fratton Park.

"We haven't spoken to anybody and I don't want to sell Sulley anyway," he said.

"He's a top player. We don't have to let anyone leave and we definitely don't want to. (He is) going nowhere, nowhere at all."

But the lure of playing for the Italian champions in the Champions League, under the guidance of Mourinho, was too much for Muntari to resist.

Mourinho will now hope to sign Lampard when his Chelsea contract expires next summer.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Portsmouth | Muntari set for £12.7m Inter move

[Jager]

Its a done deal apparently.

[Buddha14]

Is this serious shit or just paper talk?

[Dellas]

it has apparently been done for 13 mill.

No where near the Lampard standard but and okish replacement I guess....Inter couldn't wait I guess

[Morrison]

Pompey poised to splash the cash | Latest News | Football News from TEAMtalk

Sulley Muntari's move to Inter Milan will give Harry Redknapp the funds he needs to mount bids for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nicky Shorey.

Portsmouth's squad is beginning to look like an England 'B' line-up as he already has David James, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe before recently adding striker Peter Crouch, his £11million recruit from Liverpool.

Now Ghanaian midfielder Muntari is set to clinch a £12.7million switch to Jose Mourinho's Inter after yesterday saying his goodbyes to Pompey team-mates and having a medical in Italy today.

The fee - representing a profit of around £5million on the figure paid to Udinese last summer - is expected to be ploughed straight back into Redknapp's rebuilding plans, minus an agreed percentage which Muntari's former club Udinese are due as part of a clause in the transfer last summer.

And it means the Pompey manager has sufficient funds again to make a realistic move for Chelsea winger Wright-Phillips who, along with Crouch, has been his prime target all summer.

Redknapp is hopeful Chelsea will take £9million for the former Manchester City player they signed for more than twice that figure two years ago - or at least let him out on a year-long loan.

And that could leave enough cash left over to swoop for relegated Reading's left-back Shorey, who is keen to return to the Premier League spotlight, although Royals chief Steve Coppell is likely to want at least £5million and soon.

His desire to bring in Wright-Phillips and Shorey is why Muntari's dream move back to Italy has been sanctioned by Pompey, who have a wealth of midfield talent, even though Redknapp rates the Ghana ace as world-class.

He said: "Sulley is a terrific player but, like everyone, you have to look at it if you get a very good offer.

"I wanted to keep him and would be sorry to lose him but every player has his price.

"I built the side which got us into the Premier League a few years ago from the money Peter Crouch brought in when I sold him first time around to Aston Villa.

"Sometimes an offer is too good to turn down, no matter who the player is. I like Sulley but that's how it is."

Meanwhile, Pompey have left the south coast for a weekend in Nigeria where they will play national champions Kano Pillar on Saturday and fellow tourists Manchester United on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield clash at Wembley in three weeks.

Inevitably, it is also a bid to tap into the burgeoning West African soccer market and Kanu, Pompey's Nigerian striker whose goals won the FA Cup, is expected to sign his new one-year contract during the trip.

[Dellas]

Great news for us if this happens...because they can buy SWP from us ...

[Buddha14]

Its a pity because muntari is indeed world class. Redknapp brought the best out of him. Rocket Shot, Quick feet, Great Tackling, Great Vision. Good buy for Inter and a good profit as well