Pompey Accept Bid For Diarra               Posted on Friday, Dec.19th 2008

Portsmouth have accepted a substantial bid from Real Madrid for French midfielder Lassana Diarra.
Diarra, 23, has been given permission to speak to the Spanish club and is set to join them when the transfer window opens in January.

Pompey boss Tony Adams will get all of the money from Diarra's sale - reported to be £20m - to sign new players.
"It's a substantial offer. Every penny is mine, and I had money before that, so I am delighted," said Adams.
"Every decision at this club will be through me and when Real Madrid offers a lot of money for one of your offers I have a decision to make.
“The lad wants to play for Real Madrid and it's a magnificent offer that will get me some recruitments for Portsmouth."

Manchester City were understood to be prepared to offer in the region of £20m for Diarra, but he hinted earlier this week in Spanish newspaper Marca that he wanted to move to Real.
"When you talk about Real Madrid the other teams are no longer important, all the others take second place," said Diarra.
"It would be a dream to be able to play for such a large club."

Diarra started his career with French side Le Havre before signing for Chelsea in 2005. He moved to the Gunners on the final day of the August 2007 transfer window but left for Pompey five months later.
"We have always said that we would only allow our players to leave if we received an exceptional bid," a Pompey spokesman told the club's website.
"We could not stand in the way of a move such as this for Lassana.
"It shows how far the club has come under the ownership of Alexandre Gayadamak when Real Madrid come in for one of our players.
"Should the deal be completed, we have already identified possible replacements."

Diarra has not played for Pompey since 15 November but is close to a return following an ankle injury.
Real are now coached by former Tottenham boss Juande Ramos and want a defensive midfielder because Mali international Mahamadou Diarra is sidelined for the season after undergoing knee surgery.