It’s only been a year since Ol’ Arry Redknapp got his man to head down to Portsmouth, but times have changed significantly down South over the last 12 months, so much so that new Sunderland head coach Steve Bruce has seen his 12 Million Pound offer for Peter Crouch accepted.

Via Guardian 

Portsmouth have accepted a £12m offer from Sunderland for Peter Crouch and will leave the 28-year-old striker to decide whether he wants to move to the Stadium of Light only 12 months after he returned to Fratton Park.

Steve Bruce, Sunderland’s manager, confirmed today that the clubs were in discussions but denied a fee had been offered and accepted. But the Guardian understands a price has been agreed for Crouch and it is now up to him.

Bruce’s main task in persuading Crouch to join Sunderland will be to convince him of the club’s ambition and, to a lesser extent, that the north-east is an attractive proposition.

The England striker, who scored 11 goals in 38 league appearances last season, is also interesting Milan and Fulham but it is thought neither club has lodged a formal bid with Portsmouth. Crouch’s departure would further weaken a Pompey squad which has already lost several players, notably Glen Johnson and Sean Davis, and has not been bolstered while Sulaiman Al Fahim tries to conclude a takeover. The club would be left with only 14 outfield first-team squad players.

Bruce is hopeful Crouch will prove a statement signing, one which persuades other international players that Sunderland mean business. The manager also revealed that he hopes to sign a total of six players this summer. Fraizer Campbell has already been purchased from Manchester United for a fee which may rise to £6m and the Paraguay defender Paulo da Silva has joined on a free, while other targets include Lee Cattermole of Wigan and Manchester City’s Richard Dunne.

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