Crouch joins Pompey attack with Defoe

According to a report on BBC Sport, Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has completed a medical at Portsmouth and is expected to finalize an £11 million move to Fratton Park.

Crouch will partner Jermain Defoe in a new-look, all-English, Pompey attack next season. This of course will be the subject of much scrutiny from England head coach, Fabio Capello, as he will undoubtedly be interested to see how these two England internationals work together weekly.

The 27 year old striker scored 40 goals in 135 appearances for Liverpool but had struggled to hold down a regular first-team place last season with the advent of Fernando Torres, who scored 33 goals for the Reds after signing from Atletico Madrid last summer.

Benitez had this to say about the player, “He is a good professional and we would have wanted him to stay,” he said.

“We offered him a new contract. But sometimes you have to understand the player. He wanted to play a lot more.”

The Spaniard added: “With Fernando Torres now first choice, that [playing more] was always going to be difficult.” “I can understand Peter’s situation. But he did very well for this club and we always supported him when people doubted the decision to bring him to Anfield.”
.
[Source: BBC Sport]