Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, has suggested he is prepared to sell David Nugent within the next 72 hours despite signing the England forward from Preston North End for £6 million only last month.

Nugent, 22, scored in yesterday's 3-0 defeat of Leeds United in the Carling Cup but has rumours persist that he could be on his way to Derby County before Friday night's transfer deadline as Redknapp tries to raise cash to buy another striker. Reports have linked him with a move for either Bolton's Nicolas Anelka or Jermain Defoe of Tottenham Hotspur.

Asked to comment on the reports, Redknapp gave a non-committal answer but admitted Derby "would like to have him". "Sometimes when you try to raise money you have to sell somebody you really don't want to sell," he said.

"It could be David, although it could be others here. What we need is a striker who can give us 15 to 20 goals a season and, if we have to do some business which will improve the team, we will because I am ambitious and the chairman is ambitious."

Redknapp signed Nugent when he was worried about Portsmouth's forward options due to doubts over the future of Kanu, who eventually signed a new contract, and Andrew Cole, who has left for Sunderland.

Nugent took Kanu's place last night having been dropped for the two previous games. After missing two chances and looking generally sluggish, he scored a late goal after two by defender Noe Pamarot.

Nugent said: "I'm happy with that, delighted in fact. I was just relieved to get on the end of John Utaka's great ball in. That goal will boost my confidence and now, hopefully, the goals may start flying in.

"I'm so pleased I could show the Portsmouth fans I can score and now I want to do it again. They have been great to me. I know the fans are with me. It was great to hear them chanting my name."