PORTSMOUTH are poised to make a £1m bid for Newcastle United defender Nikos Dabizas.

Although Leeds United are also interested in Dabizas, Pompey are likely to make the first concrete offer for the Greece international.

Dabizas's first-team career at St James' Park has seemingly been cut short by the arrival of Jonathan Woodgate.

He was slapped on the transfer list by Sir Bobby Robson at the end of last season, but there have been no takers thus far for the player.

However, Premiership new boys Portsmouth are keen to further strengthen their squad by recruiting the experienced centre-back.

Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric, who has sanctioned seven signings this summer, said: "Harry Redknapp and I believe we still need more players.

"If you want to stay in the Premiership, you have to give yourself the best chance of doing that."

Newcastle would be delighted to offload one of the five players that were put up for sale in May.

They are also trying to get rid of Clarence Acuna, Robbie Elliott, Jamie McClen and Wayne Quinn.

Andy O'Brien, one of the players to have displaced Dabizas in the Newcastle pecking order, reckons the trip to Malaysia was "excellent" preparation for the new season.

After becoming the only Magpies star to last 90 minutes in their two Asia Cup games, he said: "We've worked hard in difficult conditions over here.

"I'm sure we'll have some more difficult sessions in the next fortnight to get us into shape.

"Nobody likes losing, but the main objective was to prepare for the new campaign and I think this has been an excellent way of doing that."

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