Portsmouth defender or midfielder Joel Ward is understood to have been at Town earlier this week to hold talks over a move to the Blues. The 22-year-old, who has also been linked with Watford, was one of the three Portsmouth players Town targeted in January, when a fee was agreed for Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson, the deals breaking down over personal terms.
Now, with Pompey continuing to offload players to ease their financial situation, the move seems to be back on with Portsmouth’s administrator believed to have put a deadline of the weekend on the switch.
Although the transfer window is closed, Town can sign players on loan initially with previously agreed permanent deals being formalised in the summer. Peterborough recently recruited Crawley striker Tyrone Barnett on that basis.
Keeper Henderson is also reportedly still on the Blues’ radar, while central defender Jason Pearce, the third January target, may also continue to be in Paul Jewell’s thoughts.
Speaking to TWTD last week, chief executive Simon Clegg confirmed that the Blues' pursuit of some or all of the Pompey trio was a "live issue”.
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