Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton says there may be five or six sides in the chase for Blues target Joel Ward, who he expects to be the next player to leave Fratton Park. Town have been chasing Ward since the summer with chief executive Simon Clegg telling TWTD that there “are ongoing discussions” earlier in the week.
Appleton believes Ward, who underwent surgery on a hernia injury on Monday, is interesting a number of clubs in addition to Town with Crystal Palace and Leeds reportedly amongst them, while Watford have previously been linked: "There could be five or six in the race for Joel. That can only be a good thing.
‘He had his op but I’ve seen him and he’s walking about fine. The operation is straightforward. It’s one about 75 per cent of players have in their career.”
The Blues are still believed to be the frontrunners having initially had a fee agreed in January. That deal and a move for keeper Stephen Henderson, now with West Ham, broke down over personal terms in the final hour of the transfer window.
Ward was subsequently at Portman Road to hold talks regarding a move to the Blues prior to the March loan deadline but Portsmouth’s administrator decided to keep hold of the 22-year-old with Pompey at that point still in with a chance of holding on to their Championship status. Jewell said Ward was "keen to come” to Town when he spoke to him.
Pompey central defender Jason Pearce, who the Blues also targeted in January but are understood not to have made moves for since, completed his switch to Leeds for £500,000 yesterday, signing a four-year deal.
Appleton says he expects Ward to follow his close friend out of Fratton Park soon: "I would be very surprised if he’s not the next one to move on.”
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