Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi said Thursday he is eager to leave his club side Yokohama F. Marinos and join Portsmouth after the English first division side recently expressed interest in obtaining the services of Japan's top goalkeeper.
Yokohama officials earlier this month said they were unwilling to release Kawaguchi during the second stage of the J. League, in which the Marinos are fighting relegation from Japan's top flight and are also involved in the semifinals of the Nabisco Cup.
But speaking openly for the first time about his desire to move abroad, Kawaguchi insisted that the quicker a deal is worked out, the better.
"I realize that I still have to carry out my responsibilities (at Yokohama), but I'm hoping a move can be sorted out. Ideally, I'd like to go as soon as possible," said Kawaguchi.
Former West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp, who is now director of football at Portsmouth, has been keen to find a replacement for goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan, who died in a car accident in early August.
Redknapp watched Kawaguchi celebrate his 26th birthday by keeping a clean sheet when Japan beat Australia 3-0 on Aug. 15 in Shizuoka.
Myojin out 2 weeks
KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. (Kyodo) Kashiwa Reysol's Japan international midfielder Tomokazu Myojin will be sidelined for two weeks after suffering a knee injury and will miss Sunday's JOMO Cup, officials of the J. League first division side Thursday.
Club doctors said Myojin has damaged ligaments in his left knee.
JEF United defender Eisuke Nakanishi was named by J. League officials as Myojin's replacement on the Japanese team.