London  - Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant on Tuesday agreed to be loaned to Portsmouth.

The 26-year-old, who had been linked with moves to Real Madrid and AC Milan, will remain at Fratton Park until the end of the season.

"I've known him for a long time," manager Tony Adams told the club website.

"We were together at Arsenal a long, long time ago. He was the new kid on the block and a very exciting prospect.

"He's quick and technically very gifted. He can have a go at defenders."

It is the possibility of reuniting Pennant with his former Liverpool team-mate, centre-forward Peter Crouch, that really excites Adams.

"I saw him play with Peter Crouch for Liverpool at Fulham last year - and he was constantly getting past their left-back and getting crosses in for Crouchie," he explained.

"That's a good combination that I wanted to put back together.

"He's going to put some good crosses in and, I hope, weigh in with a few goals himself." (dpa)