August 6 2004

Crystal Palace

Portsmouth have stepped in at the last minute and bought Birmingham's Aliou Cisse from under the noses of Crystal Palace.

The Eagles had announced the signing of Cisse on a season's loan on their official website on Wednesday.

But midfielder Cisse failed to show at Palace's Press Day yesterday and opted to go to Premiership rivals Portsmouth in a £300,000 move.

The news will come as a major blow to Palace boss Iain Dowie who has seen a number of moves for players rejected and the Premiership season is just a week away.