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Crouch completes Portsmouth move
PORTSMOUTH (AFP) - England striker Peter Crouch completed his transfer from Liverpool to FA Cup winners Portsmouth on Friday.
Crouch agreed a four-year contract with Harry Redknapp's side, who are believed to have paid Liverpool a club record 11 million pounds (13.7 million euros) to secure his signature.
The 27-year-old can't wait to link up with Redknapp for the third time in his career, having played under him in his previous spell at Portsmouth in 2001-02 and also at Southampton.
"I've worked with the manager before and he gets the best out of me," Crouch said at his official unveiling at Fratton Park.
"It's fantastic to be back. This club is going places and they can match my ambitions.
"It's getting a new stadium and it's going places. The squad and the team is in place to challenge.
"This year, coming on the back of winning the FA Cup, we might be able to improve our league form. There's a nucleus of clubs just behind the big four where we are at the moment and I think we can get to the top of that queue.
"I've signed for four years and hopefully beyond that. I certainly believe within that time frame we can get into that top four."
Crouch was unable to hold down a regular place in the Liverpool team during his time at Anfield, so the prospect of being a key player with Portsmouth was a major factor in his move.
"The chance of regular first team football was part of the appeal. I know I'll have to work hard to prove myself in training, but I believe my best years are in front of me," he said.
But he insisted leaving Liverpool wasn't a step down in his career.
"I had a fantastic three years at Liverpool and I would not change it for the world. I am privileged to have played for such a top club," he said.
"Towards the end I did not get as many games as I would have liked but I will only take good memories away.
"In no way am I stepping down, I feel I am joining a club that is going places with a new stadium, a new training ground and some very good players."
Redknapp, who will pair his new signing with England team-mate Jermain Defoe in Portsmouth's front line, was surprised he had managed to tempt Crouch from Liverpool and admitted the signing showed how far his club has developed.
"Bringing a player like Peter here shows how far we have come and how far we can go," Redknapp said.
"When I first mentioned Peter to (Portsmouth chief executive) Peter Storrie last year, I didn't think we'd get him.
"We all know what a fantastic place Liverpool is and what a fantastic place it is to play football.
"I never expected to see him back here. He went off to Liverpool and did a fantastic job in my opinion and I'm looking forward to seeing him and Jermain Defoe up front - a big one and a little one - and we've got other good forwards here.
"He'll be a real threat here, a real handful. He has great ability and is a tall lad so you can drop balls off him and he's great at bringing people into play.
"There's no reason why he can't get a lot of goals here this year."
Crouch becomes Portsmouth's fifth England international and Redknapp believes Fabio Capello will be a regular visitor to the south-coast next season.
"When you look at our team we have David James, Glen Johnson, Sol Campbell, Peter and Jermain Defoe," he said. "We have five players Fabio wants to keep an eye on this year."
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