Tottenham Interested in Signing Ruud van Nistelrooy

Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, is considering a move for the Real Madrid forward, who is seen as surplus to requirements.

Van Nistelrooy turns 33 next month and has only recently returned to light training following surgery on his right knee.

Redknapp believes that, with Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko set to leave White Hart Lane, Van Nistelrooy’s Premier League experience could prove vital.

Wigan’s Paul Scharner is also attracting interest from Spurs and Fulham, along with Everton. The Austrian midfielder admitted: "Tottenham, Everton and Fulham are interested in me, just like Hertha (Berlin) and Hamburg. I would prefer to stay in England."

Former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, has told the club’s new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim that they could worse than taking Redknapp back to Fratton Park for a third time. Now at Leicester, Mandaric said: "You've got to do the right thing and if bringing Harry to the club is what he needs to do, that is what he has to do."

Meanwhile, Spurs’ Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos could be set for a return to Spain, with Espanyol.

Manchester United Taste Their First Victory Against Portsmouth

Portsmouth 0-1 Manchester United

Manchester United picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph at Portsmouth.

It was only their second victory in the last six visits to Fratton Park and it was thanks to a scruffy 33rd-minute goal claimed by Darren Fletcher which will probably go down as a Sylvain Distin own-goal.

Patrice Evra's cross from the left struck both Sol Campbell and Fletcher - United's scorer in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last week - and was creeping past a stranded David James when Distin's frantic attempt to clear off the line sent the ball spiralling into the roof of the net.

Pompey were a little unlucky with a few near-misses but finished pointless after two matches having failed to really test goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

"We played some excellent football. It's a difficult place to come. Last year we drew here, the year before we lost - so it's a bonus. We tried to get a system where the players were comfortable in their positions. We used the players in the right way."

- Sir Alex Ferguson

"I thought it was a very even game up until they scored. The way the first half went, I was well pleased. We have three or four players who haven't played for a while and missed a pre-season and I had to throw them in. The work rate was much better today and you couldn't fault the effort."

- Harry Redknapp