Town have offered Portsmouth a fee of ÂŁ3.5 million rising to ÂŁ5 million for David Nugent, according to national newspaper reports this evening. The England striker is said to be due at Portman Road for a medical and to talk personal terms in the next 48 hours.
Nugent is understood not to have gone on Portsmouth's pre-season tour of South Africa, presumably with the Town deal having been under discussion for some days.
The Blues are reported to be offering ÂŁ3.5 million up front with another ÂŁ1.5 million due to Pompey if Town win promotion to the Premier League.
The Blues first targeted Nugent earlier in the year when Jim Magilton tried to sign the 23-year-old on loan. Portsmouth agreed a deal, but the player turned the switch down without informing Magilton, a lack of courtesy which failed to impress the Town manager.
Nugent has failed to settle at Pompey since making a ÂŁ6 million move from Preston last summer. The 5ft 11in tall striker started his career with Bury having been a youth player with Liverpool.
After scoring 20 goals in 66 starts and 36 sub appearances with Bury in three years, Preston took Nugent into the Championship in 2005. It was with the Deepdale side that the striker started to make a real impression, netting 37 goals in 95 starts and 12 sub appearances.
That led to his move to Portsmouth and calls into the England squad. The Huyton-born frontman opened his international account in his only appearance, as a sub in the victory over Andorra in Barcelona.
If Nugent completes his move to the Blues, it is likely he would make his debut against former club Preston on the opening day of the season.