CHRIS LAKEY Harry Redknapp and Peter Grant have kicked off the early sparring in the anticipated tug-of-war over Norwich City striker Robert Earnshaw.

CHRIS LAKEY

Harry Redknapp and Peter Grant have kicked off the early sparring in the anticipated tug-of-war over Norwich City striker Robert Earnshaw.

Pompey boss Redknapp has been linked with a £4m bid for the Welsh wizard - but insists he won't pay over the odds for homegrown talent.

Grant, meanwhile, says that everyone has a price - even his prized asset.

“People scoring the amount of goals he has he's going to be creating interest, there is no doubt in my mind about that,” said City boss Grant.

“But the thing about the club, they have shown it so far with Darren Huckerby - they want to keep the best players at the club and add to them, not to sell them.

“In saying that, you get the finances that somebody offers you and you think it is impossible to knock back - you have got to look at it. That is not just with Earnie - you see that at Chelsea, you see that at Manchester United.

“Everybody has got a price, unfortunately, it doesn't matter whether you're Norwich City or anybody else.”

Asked whether Earnshaw had a release clause in his contract, Grant replied: “I'd say everybody has a clause - that's the right price they are willing to pay.”

However, while City's asking price would include a healthy profit on the £3.75m they paid West Brom for the player less than a year ago, Redknapp is clearly trying to keep a lid on the figures being bandied about for Earnshaw and Preston's David Nugent, with whom he has also been linked.

“I like Earnshaw, he has done well and has always scored goals,” said Redknapp. “His record is pretty good and he is a natural goalscorer.

“Norwich will probably want good money for him though. You look at Nugent, who I like - £5m is a lot of money.

“Where can you find strikers? It is hard and it will be tough to get someone here to make us a better team.

“It is always a gamble - you can get someone for a million and they do not perform or you can get Kanu who costs nothing and scored nine goals.

“Look at the players Chelsea have brought for millions and millions. Some have been great but some have not quite come off.”