POMPEY boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he was trying to sign tragic star Marc Vivien Foe.
The 28-year-old ex-Manchester City player collapsed on the pitch while playing for Cameroon in a Confederations Cup tie against Columbia last night.
Doctors battled for over an hour to save him, but he died shortly afterwards. It was believed the father-of-three had suffered a heart attack.
Redknapp, who signed Foe for £4m when he was in charge at West Ham in January 1999, said: "Marc was a terrific footballer - as strong as an ox.
"In training he was special, and his physique was near perfect.
"He was never a drinker and kept himself in excellent shape.
"We grew close during his time at West Ham and often after we went our separate ways he would phone me and joke 'Harry, I want to play in your team.'
"I was hoping to make that come true by signing him for Portsmouth. In fact, I was planning to give him a call after that (Columbia) game.
"I faced an offer to him and he was going to read it.
"He was at Manchester City last year and they wanted him for another year, but we wanted to give him a two-year contract and had been discussing it.
"We are all deeply saddened by the loss. He was a fierce competitor on the pitch but he was harmless. He was a gentle giant."
Redknapp added: "Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign him for Manchester United but he broke his leg the day before. Marc was a great young man - it's so sad."
Manchester City fans have spent the night paying homage to Marc Foe by placing scarves and floral tributes outside the gates of their former home Maine Road.
Foe's final match for the club was against Saints in the final Premiership match of last season.
City fanzine editor Dave Wallace declared: "We are all absolutely shocked.
"There will be a lot of tributes from City fans. A lot of the crowd were dubious about him at first - but then he starting belting goals in from all over the place.
"His pace was deceptive - and I'd have been delighted if we had signed him for a couple of million."
Foe's club, Lyon, paid this tribute on their website.
"He will leave us the memory of a charming boy, the incarnation of the joy in life.
"We will keep of him his bursts of laughter, the music which comes out of the changing room, and his kindness away from the ground."
Foe was still alive when he was taken to the medical area of Stade Gerland - co-incidentally, his home ground in Lyon - where he died.
Former Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris is to meet Redknapp for talks about a possible move to Fratton Park next week.
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