They were also forced to sell key players in January, losing striker Jermain Defoe and midfielder Lassana Diarra.

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Shell-shocked, Portsmouth fought to get back into the game and Baros should have collected Lassana Diarra's clever through-ball after slipping through United's defence unnoticed.

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Andrews had a row with France's Lassana Diarra after the Croke Park contest on Saturday although the Irishman has refused to reveal what was said.

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Midfielder Niko Kranjcar followed Lassana Diarra, Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch out of Fratton Park after agreeing a switch to Tottenham on 1 September.

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Redknapp has already bolstered his defence with the signing of William Gallas and the club are reportedly in talks with Real Madrid's holding midfielder Lassana Diarra.

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Rather than enhancing his squad in January, Wenger actually reduced the numbers by agreeing to let highly rated midfielder Lassana Diarra, signed from Chelsea the previous summer, leave for Portsmouth.

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At the other end, Gourcuff strode into a threatening position before scuffing his shot into Given's arms and Lassana Diarra then flashed a shot inches wide with the Irish keeper struggling.

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Meanwhile the French coach has called up Arsenal's Abou Diaby and Chelsea's Lassana Diarra for the first time for France's Euro 2008 qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Austria later this month.

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Le Havre have an outstanding reputation in developing young players, nurturing players like Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra and Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia as well as Atletico Madrid's Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who moved from the French club to Liverpool, before going to Spain.

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