SULLEY MUNTARI revealed he can't wait to play for Pompey. The Ghana midfielder is poised to be unveiled later this week as the club's record signing for a fee in the region of £7m.

Muntari has agreed terms with Pompey over his switch from Italian side Udinese.

And he explained how he had been supporting the Blues for a year since Harry Redknapp first tried to sign him.

Pompey fans got a first taste of Muntari as he starred in Kanu's charity game at Fratton Park yesterday.

The 22-year-old showcased a brilliant left foot from his berth on the left side of central midfield.

And after the game he told how just standing on Pompey's pitch was a thrill.

Muntari said: 'I'm just waiting for the day to join Portsmouth. I want to play here.

'To step on this ground, it's like I've started in the Premiership already.

'It's a fantastic club with class players like Pedro Mendes, Sol Campbell, David James and Kanu and a great manager in Harry Redknapp, who has been following me since last year.

'I've been supporting Portsmouth for a year – ever since they said they first wanted me – watching the games. It's been a fantastic season.'

Redknapp's chase for Muntari began at last year's World Cup when he travelled to Germany to watch Ghana play Brazil.

And the midfielder explained how his respect for Pompey's boss deepened in the Fratton Park dressing rooms yesterday.

He said: 'I spoke to Harry Redknapp before the game. We shook hands and he told me to enjoy it.

'Harry Redknapp's not just a good manager, he's a good man.

'I could see that in the changing rooms from the way that he was talking to the players. It was fantastic.

'I know that as a player if I've got a problem I'll be able to go to him.'

A crowd of 4,600 saw a Friends of Kanu side beat a Pompey XI 7-5. Muntari said: 'I didn't know Kanu, but he called and asked me to play, and I was delighted to.

'I like the fans. I think they love football.

'To see them turn up to cheer us on for Kanu's game in the way they did was fantastic.'

Muntari is likely to be the first of several Pompey signings this summer.

His arrival would eclipse the club's current record transfer fee of £4.4m paid for Benjani Mwaruwari in January 2006.