Merson tells Walsall: make me an offer

Walsall hope to pull off a sensational move for Paul Merson in the biggest signing in the club's history. The midfielder is leaving Portsmouth to move back to his Birmingham home and has told Walsall to "offer me what you can" to their amazement.

The former England international, who still has a year left on his current contract, has been looking to leave Pompey, despite their promotion to the Premiership, after having more trouble with his old gambling addiction and he contacted the Saddlers about the idea.

Walsall were stunned when they were approached and thought they could not afford the 35-year-old.

Portsmouth are interested in signing a former favourite in Tottenham's Darren Anderton as Merson's replacement. "I've spoken to people at Tottenham, I've declared my interest," the Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said. "There's an opportunity, a chance it could happen."

If Anderton did make his way to Portsmouth he would be reunited with his old Spurs colleague, Teddy Sheringham.