Pompey scotch Sorin rumours

Sorin has to sort out personal terms with Pompey

Portsmouth have played down reports that they are on the verge of signing Argentine defender Juan Pablo Sorin after he was released by Barcelona.

Sorin should have returned to Brazilian side Cruzeiro - where he played before moving to the Spanish giants - but he has expressed a desire to stay in Europe.

According to Cruzeiro vice-president Zeze Perrella, Portsmouth were prepared to pay £1.27m (1.8m euros) for 50% of Sorin's transfer, leaving the other half with the Brazilian club.

But Pompey chief Peter Storrie has quashed the speculation and said: "To suggest we are close to a deal to bring him here is far from the truth and sounds like agent talk.

Faye seals Pompey deal

"Juan is a top class defender and the kind of player we would be interested in.

"But I would imagine his wages would be well beyond us in any case."

The 27-year-old Argentine arrived in Brazil in 2000, when Cruzeiro and Hicks paid $5m ($3.1m) to River Plate.

He then was transferred to Lazio, but the Italian side finally returned him after paying $1m (£619,000) for a loan.

Have your say on the 606 Premiership page