'We now have four strikers as it looks like Darren Bent could move. I believe he is close to doing a deal with Sunderland.

'He gives us a bit of a different option. We now have four top strikers which is what you need at every club and so I am delighted to have Crouchy.

'He is different to almost anyone else in the league in terms of his size and the way he plays the game, so I am pleased to have him. With him, Robbie (Keane), Jermain Defoe and (Roman) Pavlyuchenko we have a good strikeforce.'

Crouch scored 16 goals in all competitions for Portsmouth last season.