Town are expected to sign Chester City striker Jon Walters in a £250,000 deal within the next 24 hours. Walters, 23, was in the Chester side which faced the Blues in the FA Cup third round earlier this month.

The Chester number 14 was born in Birkenhead and started his career with Blackburn Rovers, impressing in their youth side. The 6ft tall striker moved on Bolton in 2001 but made only one start and five sub appearances while at the Reebock Stadium.

Loans with Hull, Crewe and Barnsley followed, with the former Irish U21 international joining the Tigers permanently for £50,000 in February 2004. Walters's time in East Yorkshire yielded only three goals in 11 starts and 30 sub appearances and in July 2005, after a month on loan at Scunthorpe, he joined Wrexham on a free transfer.

Walters's spell at the Racecourse Ground saw him net five times in 36 starts and five games as a sub, before he moved on to Chester last summer, having failed to agree a new deal with the Welsh club. Since moving to the Deva Stadium Walters has scored 10 times in 30 starts and three games from the bench.

Earlier this week Chester revealed that they had turned down a £100,000 bid from Scunthorpe and that two Championship sides were showing interest. Wolves are thought to have been Town's competitors for Walters's signature.

Walters is believed to be travelling to Portman Road today for a medical and to discuss personal terms. The fee is understood to consist of an initial up front payment — likely to be in the region of £150,000 - with the rest of the cash due on appearances and goals, as well as a 20% sell-on clause.

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