Portsmouth takeover moves nearer

Sulaiman Al Fahim is in the process of negotiating a price for his proposed takeover of Portsmouth after completing due diligence on the club.

The United Arab Emirates businessman is trying to agree a figure with Pompey owner Sacha Gaydamak.

Paperwork for the Premier League's "fit-and-proper-person" test has already been submitted.

Portsmouth's players have expressed their desire for the deal to be completed as soon as possible.

Pompey and England striker Peter Crouch recently said he was worried by the fact that the club had no full-time manager in place, with the Premier League season only a month away.

Paul Hart, Pompey's third boss of a turbulent season after Harry Redknapp and Tony Adams, ended the last campaign in charge and succeeded in keeping the club in the top flight.

But it is unclear whether Hart will take the reins next season with the takeover still to be completed.

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" We know that once we're taken over, we'll at least have the money to keep ourselves going in the world's best football league "

The club have lost full-back Glen Johnson and midfielder Sean Davis, with only defender Aaron Mokoena - who joined on a free transfer from Blackburn - moving to Fratton Park.

"Due diligence has been completed. We are now making a final commercial assessment with information obtained through the due diligence process," said Al Fahim's advisor Ivo Ilic Gabara.

"We will then sit down and negotiate a final price based on how much both parties think the club is worth.

"We have never said the entire deal would be completed in July. We said all along we expected due diligence to be completed in such a time frame - now that has happened. I cannot possibly say when a final fee will be agreed.

"The deal is not closed until it is closed, like any financial transaction.

"But both parties want it completed as soon as possible to proceed in a good manner."

Last month, Gabara told BBC Sport that there would be no problems with the fit and proper person test.

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