Leeds United are reported to be close to beating the Blues to the signature of Portsmouth’s Joel Ward. Town have been targeting the 22-year-old since January when a fee was agreed for Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson on the final day of the transfer window but the moves broke down over personal terms.

Henderson subsequently joined West Ham but Ward was at Portman Road in March to hold talks with the Blues prior to the loan deadline.

However, Portsmouth’s administrator decided not to sell with Pompey at that point still in with a chance of keeping their Championship status but with Jewell believing Ward was “keen to come” to Town having spoken to him.

Central defender Jason Pearce, who the Blues also targeted in January when Pompey rebuffed their offer along with others, recently completed a switch to Leeds for £500,000, signing a four-year deal.

Pearce and Ward are close friends having come through the youth ranks at Fratton Park and the versatile midfielder or defender may well be keen to be reunited with his former team-mate at Elland Road.

Back in January, Pompey boss Michael Appleton said, perhaps presciently: “They are two peas in a pod, where one goes the other follows."

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

BLUEBEAT added 23:27 - May 9 What a surprise
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taylor15 added 23:29 - May 9 wouldn't surprise me. i remember appleton saying that they war the two jokers, and were joined by the hip. would've liked them both, but life goes on. now get in lowton and montgomery from sheffield united.
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taylor15 added 23:30 - May 9 not montgomery, i meant maguire! COYB!<3
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Hungry_Badger added 23:31 - May 9 not suprised, he didnt even want to come here when he wasnt getting paid!
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bobble added 23:37 - May 9 leeds or ipswich ? you are kidding me that someone would choose to live and work in leeds ? its a weird world ......
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Duncan added 23:41 - May 9 Lower league player who are good enough to step up on low wages our only hope!! I can't see any signings this summer where we will think straight away he's good like Bowyer or Bullard last Summer ........
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weddings added 23:42 - May 9 Leeds are going to sign everyone in the summer.We wont stand a chance with the rubbish money we are offering as wages.Another mid table finish next season sorry to say.Even jewells gone on holiday already so he must be realy trying to sign players before anyone else...What a joke......
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Sindre94 added 23:57 - May 9 We all hate leeds scum
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Michael11 added 00:07 - May 10 Good! Quite frankly i'm bored to death of reading about these Pompey lads now, take the hint they don't want to come and move on!
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pennblue added 05:50 - May 10 We should have signed Warnock then the players would come
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Suffolk_n_Good added 06:44 - May 10 Here we go...... same old, same old.......
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icetruckiller added 07:34 - May 10 Yet again we chase a player only for another team to come and beat us to the signing. What the **** is going on with Clegg???
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Sebastian added 07:37 - May 10 Why bother? He never wanted to play for Ipswich anyway. If he doesnt have the heart, i dont want him.
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Pessimistic added 07:37 - May 10 With Clegg doing the negotiating you just knew there was no chance.
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andygizmo added 07:47 - May 10 For god's sake stop blaming Clegg. He can't drag a player here and force him to sign. If the player wants to go to Leeds to sometimes play alongside his best mate Clegg, Jewell, Evans can't force him to do otherwise. Recognise the fact we are not an attractive place to live for some of the younger players. Let them go elsewhere..... strange also that people are so excited about getting 2 defenders from a side with a poor defensive record and who were relegated. A bit of passion about playing for us is what we need in a player.

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geography26 added 07:50 - May 10 Think Leeds are going to be very annoying this transfer window!
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evansblue added 08:04 - May 10 Lets not kid ourselves Leeds are a massive club. Given the choice of Ipswich or Leeds I think at the moment nearly all would choose Leeds. We are currently viewed by most as an average championship team with a bit of history and nothing else. We need to start competing at the right end of this league and get some top 6 finishes before people outside of Ipswich think any differently.

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Keaneish added 08:30 - May 10 I think everyone on here knows my dissatisfaction at us not being able to pull off the Pearce deal but no Ward as well!? What a F**king joke! and to Warnock too!!! Not happy already and we're only 2 weeks in!! The task is simple then PJ/Clegg. You guarantee you sign Caddis from Swindon and Chambers from Forest and do it NOW!!!
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sonian_blue added 08:42 - May 10 Spot on Evansblue. That means we will likely be working with what we already have next season and maybe relying heavily on our youths. In that case we need a motivator and tactician...PJ ticks neither box. We need a younger man with enthusiasm and a fresh approach. Jewell out Now.
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rosseden added 08:58 - May 10 Leeds has two universities, excellent nightlife, loads to do. They're early twenties. Is it any surprise they want to go there. Miles more to do than in suffolk. Sometimes it isn't about football but is about them as people. . . .
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brittaniaman added 09:11 - May 10 It seems to me that Leeds are simply ignoring the financial fair play act ???? I suppose Bates and Warnock think they are a law unto themselves !!! BATES will find all the loopholes, that is his job ???????
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PimsNumber1 added 09:12 - May 10 Leeds/warnock seem to ftarget exactly the same players ! And guess what , Colin is nabbing them .
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itfc1981 added 09:15 - May 10 Calamity Clegg
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walberswick added 09:21 - May 10 Looks like we might get a couple of loans in August, apart from that I think we'll have to do with what we've got.(unless someone wants Cresswell, Scotland or Chopra)
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PunchNoHopers added 09:24 - May 10 Probably giving him a four year deal, like they did Pearce and we will offer two. Mind you might be the fact that we won't match his wage demands either!
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