Kranjcar: Pompey need big names

Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar has called on the club to show its ambition again and make a move for more big names. Pompey are apparently set to have a quiet January transfer window.

Kranjcar said: "People like David James, Kanu and Sol Campbell arrived at the same time and sent a message out that this football club wanted to go places, that it wanted to go towards the European tournament.

"We knew we had the quality and the coaching staff to come into Europe – that's why I joined. If I didn't know that Sol was here or David or Kanu, I probably wouldn't have come. But when you see those big players are here that makes all the difference.

"I think it's not only me. Lots of players came because they knew it was going to be a big challenge to play in Europe and do well in the Premier League."