Crouch closes in on Portsmouth move <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Liverpool on Monday gave Portsmouth permission to open talks with their England international striker Peter Crouch. Pompey have previously had one bid, believed to be 9 million pounds (17.7 million dollars), turned down. But Liverpool revealed they had reached an agreement with their Premier League rivals, opening the way for negotiations between the south-coast club and their former player. “We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter,” a spokesman told the club's website. Crouch joined Liverpool for 7 million pounds from Southampton, having previously played for Pompey in 2001-02.</div>
