Pompey Sign Up Bolton Target

By Mark Heys
July 13 2005

Zambian forward Collins Mbesuma will be playing his football in the English Premiership next season = but not for Bolton Wanderers.

In a remarkable twist of fate, it was Portsmouth who announced that they had agreed a three year deal worth £500,000 which will bring the 21-year old Kaizer Chiefs forward to England, this coming just hours after a trial spell with Bolton was cut short.

Mbesuma had been expected to spend a week with Bolton but Chiefs did not want their star player to go out on trial. Aston Villa and Chelsea where also believed to have cast an eye over recent developments but it was Pompey who stole a march on the rest of the Premiership.

A delighted Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin said:

"We hope he will bring to England the quality and goal-scoring he has shown in South Africa."

The move for Mbesuma comes just hours after former Manchester City and Derby attacker Paulo Wanchope snubbed the South Coast club in favour of a move to Qatar following an unhappy spell in Spain with Malaga.

A work permit needs to be granted before the young hit man can play for Portsmouth, and this could prove difficult due to Zambia's credability in international football.