Tony Adams may deny it, but he gives every impression of wanting to rebuild Highbury at Fratton Park after confirming that he is interested in adding Dennis Bergkamp to his coaching staff at Portsmouth.

The former Arsenal captain, who took over as Portsmouth manager last week after the departure of Harry Redknapp, has also inquired about the availability of Patrick Vieira, who inherited his armband and is now with Inter Milan, and has spoken to Martin Keown, his former partner in the centre of the Arsenal defence, about the job as his right-hand man.

Bergkamp, 39, who made 424 appearances for Arsenal before retiring in 2006, is working as an assistant coach with Ajax and not reported to be too keen on a move. Moreover, it is unlikely that Portsmouth could afford to add Vieira to their overstretched wage bill. But if all three ended up on the South Coast, it would take the number of former Arsenal players at the club into double figures. Already on the playing staff are Sol Campbell, Lassana Diarra, Kanu, Lauren, Jerome Thomas, Richard Hughes and Armand Traoré, who is on loan from the North London club.

Adams, therefore, would only be continuing a trend begun by Redknapp, who was a regular on Highbury's North Bank as an Arsenal-supporting child - something that has been largely ignored since he took over as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, their greatest rivals.

“I'm meeting with a few people and having conversations with a couple of old friends,” Adams said. “I've had a positive meeting with Martin [Keown]. Then there's Dennis, who is a good, good man. I've not spoken to him, but there are a few people I still need to talk to.”

Bergkamp has retained his home in Hertfordshire and he has taken an intensive coaching diploma open to former Holland players. Adams wants to have his new staff in place before Saturday's game away to Sunderland. “I need my people in and the sooner the better,” Adams said. “Mind you, you don't have to be an old Arsenal player.” But it obviously helps.