Pompey capture Colombian star

Portsmouth have signed midfielder John Viafara from Colombian side Once Caldas, subject to a work permit.

The Colombia international will become manager Alain Perrin's third signing of the summer after the arrivals of Laurent Robert and Andy O'Brien from Newcastle.

"We have signed another top-class player and he is a box-to-box player and very competitive," chief executive Peter Storrie told the club's official website.

Viafara has been a target for chairman Milan Mandaric and manager Alain Perrin for a number of weeks, with their persistence finally coming to fruition with a deal worth at least £1.5million.

The midfielder, who has spent all his time in Colombia with America de Cali, Deportivo Pasto and the last three seasons with Once Caldas, is seen as the ideal replacement for Amdy Faye following his £2million transfer window move to Newcastle.

In recognising the characteristics of a player who has won 12 caps, Mandaric said: "This is another great signing for the club. We are adding some real quality to our existing squad.

"As with our other pre-season signings we have again seen off competition from top clubs to sign John and that is a real statement from others about the direction they see the club heading.

"We have really got to work this month in strengthening our squad and John's signing is a further big indicator of our ambitions as the club contemplates its third season in the Premier League."

Jason Euell and John Aloisi could soon follow as Perrin is also targeting a striker to replace Aiyegbeni Yakubu following his £7.5million departure to Middlesbrough earlier this summer.

Mandaric has confirmed the club are interested in re-signing Australia international Aloisi after he originally joined them in 1997 from Cremona for £300,000 before moving to Coventry just over a year later for £650,000.

The 29-year-old, currently with Spanish side Osasuna, has put himself back in the shop window recently by scoring a brace against Argentina and hosts Germany in the Confederations Cup.

Mandaric has stated he "is hopeful" of capturing Aloisi, who could be joined by Euell as he seemingly finds himself out of favour at Charlton under boss Alan Curbishley.

Euell struggled last season, scoring just two goals and then being relegated to the substitutes bench and commented at the weekend that the time is perhaps right for him to move on.

"I have had four years at the club, three of them great, but last year was not as good as I would have liked it to be," he said.

"If it is the thing to do for me to move to get a fresh start, I would be happy with that because all I want to do is get back to playing football again."

Agent Tony Finnigan has confirmed Portsmouth is a likely destination as he said: "They are interested in Jason and I would love to get him down there because it is a great place to play."