Town remain the frontrunners for the signature of former Nottingham Forest skipper Luke Chambers, according to the Midlands media, despite a number of sources close to Town insisting that the deal broke down yesterday evening after lengthy talks at Portman Road. The out-of-contract 26-year-old returned home to the Nottingham area last night to consider his next step with Leeds United understood to be showing strong interest in the one-time Northampton man.
Reports in Nottingham this morning claim Chambers has been offered a three-year deal at Portman Road which would almost double his £8,000-a-week Forest wage, although that figure seems unlikely given Town’s oft-stated commitment to reducing outgoings with the Championship moving towards the Financial Fair Play break-even model.
After talks, a medical and the traditional tour of the stadium and training facilities yesterday, Chambers asked for time to mull over his decision, with Leeds, whose takeover is thought to be close to being completed, believed to have made a late approach for the Kettering-born centre-half.
Town are not officially commenting on progress on the deal, as is their usual policy, but the picture may become clearer later today.
Manager Paul Jewell is due back at Portman Road this afternoon ahead of the start of pre-season training on Thursday, by which time he will be hoping Chambers, one of his top summer targets, will have committed his future to the Blues.