Beck off Milan, Harry's lurking!

Sports desk: 'Was he serious or is Harry having a laugh?'

Reporter in Braga: 'He meant it.

Sports desk: 'Really? It's Beckham we're talking about and he is in talks with Milan.'

Reporter: 'Harry was serious - he really thought about putting in a bid for him.'

(Still unbelieving) Sports desk: 'Okay, I suppose we'll have to play it reasonably straight.'

And so went the conversation for a little while longer until The News sports desk were half-convinced they weren't the victim of an embarrassing wind-up.

The result is our back page today.

The Sun, somewhat understandably, had a little fun with it but they, too, played it reasonably straight.

Harry Redknapp was serious - he thought about bidding for David Beckham.

He hasn't a chance, of course. the world's most recognisable footballer is half-way to the San Siro to play for AC Milan in a loan deal.

It's easy to view the whole thing as another Harry joke. And let's be honest, the tongue must have been firmly in cheek for at least some of the press conference.

A little bit of fantasy, maybe, but then we thought that when Redknapp went after Sol Campbell and look what happened there.

Granted, big Sol cut a troubled figure at the time and didn't have a high-maintenance former Spice Girl on his arm (just imagine Posh Spice walking down Commercial Road!).

Football-wise, though, how Harry - a born self-publicist - would have loved to have talked Beckham into coming to Fratton Park. He'd give it a go, for sure.

He also knows if Campbell was a long shot, getting Becks to even consider coming to Fratton Park is mission impossible.

Redknapp's comments leave him open to ridicule.

But it's a credit to him and the progress Pompey are making that he was only half-joking.