Portsmouth to take bad boy Amr Zaki on loan

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is ready to play with fire by taking bad boy Amr Zaki on loan.

The striker was sent packing from Wigan after often failing to return on time from Egypt duty.

Liverpool and Chelsea both ran the rule over Zaki after an early season goal blitz following his switch on loan from Egyptian outfit El Zamalek.

But the goals dried up and he was sent back. Yet Portsmouth are desperate for bodies with just 14 players reporting back from their holidays.

Nadir Sawqi, Zaki's agent, last night said: "Negotiations have been ongoing for the last three days to sign Amr on loan."

Hart also hopes to land winger Serge Gakpe on a season's loan from Monaco. And striker Nikola Kalinic is set to sign for £5m today from Hajduk Split.