Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch expects Town target Joel Ward to leave Fratton Park in the next few days. Contrary to reports last week, Birch says Leeds isn’t necessarily his destination with the Blues and Burnley also having held talks, and Crystal Palace linked.
Birch, who has received no offers for any other Pompey player, said: "Joel Ward will be the next to go but I am not certain of the timescale on that. That is progressing. I would have thought something should be happening in the next few days.
"It is not necessarily going to be Leeds. He has met a few other clubs in total and has been talking things over with them. We are waiting to see what the outcome will be.”
Town have been targeting Ward, who will reportedly leave his hometown club for a fee of £450,000, since January when he was one of three Pompey players they were chasing.
Offers were accepted for Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson, who is now with West Ham, but the moves broke down over personal terms. A bid for central defender Jason Pearce was turned down and the former Bournemouth man recently moved to Leeds. Pearce and Ward are close friends, which may be what has led to speculation that the Whites are frontrunners for the latter’s signature.
According to reports in Yorkshire, Leeds boss Neil Warnock is hopeful that he can complete two signings, believed to be Ward and Derby’s Paul Green, before the end of the week.
Blues manager Jewell, who signed out-of-contract midfielder Green from Doncaster when he was at Pride Park, has played down his interest in the 29-year-old Irish international.
Ward, 22, played under Burnley boss Eddie Howe during a spell on loan at Bournemouth in 2008/09 while the Clarets manager was in charge of the Cherries.
Meanwhile, sources in the North-East continue to link departing Blue Grant Leadbitter with a summer Bosman switch to Middlesbrough, as has been reported since March.
Photo: Action Images