A Liverpool spokesman confirmed: "We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will step up efforts to secure his primary transfer targets after agreeing a fee with Portsmouth for the sale of striker Peter Crouch.
The two clubs had been at odds over the England international's value, with Benitez putting it as high as £15million earlier in the summer and Pompey making an offer of £9million, but a compromise appears to have been reached on the structuring of the deal.
Reports suggest Portsmouth will pay an initial £8million with a further £3million payable in add-ons over the course of Crouch's contract at Fratton Park.
"We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter," a spokesman told the club's website, Liverpoolfc.tv.
Crouch joined Liverpool for £7million from Southampton in 2005, having previously played for Pompey in 2001-02, but last season found his opportunities in the starting line-up limited as Benitez changed his formation to get the best out of record signing Fernando Torres and inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will step up efforts to secure his primary transfer targets after agreeing a fee with Portsmouth for the sale of striker Peter Crouch.
The two clubs had been at odds over the England international's value, with Benitez putting it as high as £15million earlier in the summer and Pompey making an offer of £9million, but a compromise appears to have been reached on the structuring of the deal.
Reports suggest Portsmouth will pay an initial £8million with a further £3million payable in add-ons over the course of Crouch's contract at Fratton Park.
"We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter," a spokesman told the club's website, Liverpoolfc.tv.
Crouch joined Liverpool for £7million from Southampton in 2005, having previously played for Pompey in 2001-02, but last season found his opportunities in the starting line-up limited as Benitez changed his formation to get the best out of record signing Fernando Torres and inspirational captain Steven Gerrard.