Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, has denied that he will be forced to sell players in the January transfer window to offset debts, reported to be as much as £60 million. The South Coast club also issued a statement saying that Alexandre Gaydamak, the owner since 2006, was not seeking a buyer, although it did say that he would give the right offers “serious consideration”.

After Portsmouth had beaten Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Barclays Premier League at Fratton Park, Redknapp said: “Show me a football club that is not up for sale or that has not got some debt. Every club in this country has a price and if someone offers crazy money, I’m sure there will be takers.

“I spoke with the owner today and he has backed me all the way. No, I don’t have to sell anyone in January. He told me that it was my decision and I didn’t have to if I didn’t want to. Sure, I’ve sold a couple [of players] to get a couple, I sold Benjani [Mwaruwari, to Manchester City] to get Jermain Defoe [from Tottenham], and that’s the way it is. I turned down a £15 million bid for [Lassana] Diarra on transfer deadline day. I’m not saying who from – he might want to go. But he is worth more. We had to sell Sulley Muntari [to Inter Milan] and Pedro Mendes [to Rangers] in the summer to get Peter Crouch [from Liverpool] and and a few others.”

Reports indicated that about 90 per cent of Portsmouth’s yearly income is spent on players’ salaries, hence the alleged need for a fire sale in January. “I don’t get involved in the wage bill,” Redknapp said. “I couldn’t tell you the wages of any of our players. Peter Storrie [the chief executive] does all that with the owner.”

The club statement read: “The club’s owner has already stated that the club is not for sale but, as with all businesses, should the right offer be forthcoming, serious consideration would be given to the proposal. The financial position of the club is fully audited and is consistent with its peers in the football industry. The club’s growth and performance over the last 2½ years is evidence of how well the club is managed.”