Town skipper Jon Walters is understood to be on the verge of a £3 million move to Premier League Stoke City. Walters has been tipped to make his Portman Road exit all summer with QPR recently claimed to have had a £2.5 million offer rebuffed by the Blues and weekend reports that the former Republic of Ireland B international had handed in a transfer request.

The Blues and Potters are believed to have agreed the fee and Walters is expected at the Britannia Stadium today to talk personal terms with the move looking likely to be completed before the end of the week.

The 26-year-old, who is contracted to Town until 2012, was strongly linked with Stoke in the summer of 2008, but no offer was eventually forthcoming, and then again earlier in this close season.

Manager Roy Keane, who made Walters his captain last season, said in January that the Birkenhead-born player is capable of playing in the top flight: “Jon’s been outstanding. He’s a been a really good leader for us, even earlier in the season when we were having a difficult spell.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, Jon Walters could easily be playing in the Premiership, so we’re very lucky to have him. He’s a very, very important player for us.”

Walters joined Town from Chester City for an initial £100,000 in January 2007, the deal also including top-ups relating to appearances by the player and promotion for the Blues which would could have taken the fee to £200,000. The one-time Blackburn and Bolton trainee coincidentally made his Town debut against Stoke in a 0-0 draw in Staffordshire.

If Walters completes his move, the Blues are appear almost certain to use some of the cash raised to tempt Cardiff City into selling number one target Michael Chopra, their offers so far having been refused by the Bluebirds.

Meanwhile, a season ticket in D Block of the Cobbold Stand has been revealed as the fourth most expensive in the country at £1,001, higher than the top-priced seats at Manchester United and Newcastle and cheaper than only Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea’s most costly tickets.

Photo: Action Images

tractorboyz82 added 15:22 - Aug 4 you should see the stoke forum they are not happy lol.if its true then best of luck jw if you do go.does any1 think we are going to get any players in because i just cant see it.thank you jw
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Lightningboy added 15:27 - Aug 4 Btw..as if any of you needed reminding that's now: David Wright, Richard Wright, Bruce, Garvan, Trotter, Balkestein, Rosenior, Daryl Murphy, David Healy, Colback ...all gone from last season's side...not to mention,Delaney & Civelli who are injured. ..and we've brought in Mark Kennedy & an irish kid from sunderland to replace them all...oh and maybe another goalie....premiership here we come.

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bluethroughnthrough added 15:30 - Aug 4 very worried about the state of the club. 4th most expensive tickets in england? not only that but over 80% of our fans just go for the day out - not to support the club, not to get behind the team, and not make any noise, just to eat prawn sandwiches selling walters for £3m? ok, sounds fair enough. but where is the ambition? if we want to finish top half - let alone top 6, we're gonna have to show we want it, and buy top quality players. i've been a supporter of keane but i'm loosing faith. he doesnt seem to get the best out of players like garvan, and can't buy the right ones either. Get mowbray in before its too late?

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sirbenofmorlingshire added 15:32 - Aug 4 LIGHTENING BOY - See my post/link on page 5 of this article... it don't look great compared to all the others!
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Martus added 15:34 - Aug 4 Yes Lightningboy, we had too bigger squad, those players, about from loanees didnt play much and Keane sold them as they wernt in his plans. Due to injuries we are worryingly light at the moment. But Keane is no mug, he knows he needs replacements and has said he sees 4 new signings coming in before the end of the transfer window. The West Ham game has made me alot more optimistic the season and im sure Keane will bring in the players.

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Singapore_Blue added 15:35 - Aug 4 Bite their hands off ! Excellent in his first season.......7 shades of average ever since. Brilliant piece of business Keano. I hope fans will give him credit.
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devontractorboy added 15:43 - Aug 4 Amazing isn't it, Walters who always gave us 110% is being run down by some of you. He was a revelation when he came from Chester and under Keane has been asked to perform a role for which he is not suited or played on the wrong side of the park. Tony Pulis has done a brilliant job at Stoke and knows his onions, I personally will be sad to see him go, it's what happens to the money (if it is indeed £3m??) that is currently bothering me. Come on Mr Evans/Clegg (are they really the one and the same person??) put your money where your mouth is, stump up and sign some quality NOW!!!!

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katemoss added 15:46 - Aug 4 Who in there right mind would sign for Ipswich at the moment ? Yes, if you're 35 years old and they offer you a 2 year contract but Fulop would be a dope. He'll get plenty more offers. Next....Chopra, Next....
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Karlosfandangal added 15:51 - Aug 4 Sell Walters and put in a 7 million pound bid for Chopra and Whittingham. Prem here we come
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callmeted added 15:54 - Aug 4 DEVONTRACTORBOY: Dont think you can lay that ALL at the feet of RK. Seem to remember in Magiltons last season that walters didnt start the season amidst rumours that he wanted to return North west as his wife had baby and wasnt a shade of the player he was the year before. Also Magilton changed his flanks, put him up front etc. Agree with comitment and endeavour but would think £3 mill is too much to turn down IF we can get a goalscorer. So at the end I agree its up to ME/SC to back keane, allow him to purchase in order to replace the players that they seem to have forced his hand in selling and for us all to sing from the same sheet on this site at last ( hopefully fuelled by section 6 and not the predictable 'songsters' we have in the North Stand at the moment.

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Markie31 added 15:59 - Aug 4 Personally I'd rather Keane got James Beattie in for the 1.75m that Pulis wants for him. Has a much better record than Chopra. That would also give us some more cash to fund some other players.
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MonterreyBlue added 16:02 - Aug 4 Looking in from afar im not quite sure what to make of the close season. 3 Million quid for Walters is a great offer, another person on here said he is "neither a winger or a striker" and i completely agree and for that amount of money i would bite their arms off. Am now just really hoping that we have a good plan behind the scenes as the squad looks a little low on quality....so we have to keep the faith and hope they have the players ready to come in... we shall see. Another subject, the season ticket price, matchday ticket price and 15 quid to watch the reserves v Spurs is an absolute joke. The Club (Clegg) need to sort that out, we are in the top 3 in the Country price wise....i am disgusted by this. So, a new season and come on you Blue Boys!!!

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legoman added 16:03 - Aug 4 I think we are near to being able to say that the core of the team is now keano's and he has got the characters around him that he yearned for. Now he needs to add the cream. I havnt felt so positive about an approaching season for ages.
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bluechick added 16:12 - Aug 4 Don't let us down John, put pen to paper asap. Don't know whats been wrong for the last two seasons but this is your big chance, grab it while you can. Good luck
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bluechick added 16:14 - Aug 4 Lego man when they asked us to ring radio suffolk and use one word to describe what you felt about the coming season i said flat. You?
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WickedBlue added 16:16 - Aug 4 @JonTheBass his wife wants to move back north as she has never really settled in the area and wants to be closer to her family. This crap about him and RK is just that, crap made up by idiots as a stick to beat RK with. Though I agree it is true RK has this season to do the business.
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BlueGoonie added 16:22 - Aug 4 As much as I've liked Walters, the fact is he's not hit the heights over the last 2 seasons as he did when he was outstanding in 07/08, and so if a good offer comes in perhaps it's time to move on. I for one certainly consider £3m a good offer, and wish him all the best at Stoke. Subsequently, if that £3m opens the door for a successful bid for Chopra (and possibly another midfielder) then I think the majority of fans with heads on their shoulders will see that as excellent business.

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Keaneish added 16:25 - Aug 4 GREAT BUSINESS!! Now give us Chopra, Sinclair, Gypes and a right back. Lets play 4-2-4 with Edwards and Sinclair on the wings, Chops and WIckham in the middle, norris and Leadbitter in midfield and lets batter some teams Joe Royle/Kevin Keegan style....for the love of God, get me passionate about my club again because this has been BORING for way too long now!!!!!
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legoman added 16:26 - Aug 4 Sorry to take so long bluechick. A sentence would have been easier but the word I have chosen is hopeful.
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BlueGoonie added 16:28 - Aug 4 Keanish - Sniclair's going to Blackpool, strong links with Holloway plus lure of Premiership football.
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Seasider added 16:34 - Aug 4 Campowasgood.Bloody dear cup of tea,hope it is Earl Grey,and A free programme too,Mr Evans generosity knows no bounds!!! Agree with jas0999(and majority today)it is a brilliant deal if true.Even in first season didnt rate JW as highly as most.Yes a workmanlike player who runs for 90 mins but to little effect. Not fast enough or tricky enough for wide man.Not particularly good with his head for striker and doesnt score many goals either,has given reasonable service and I wish him well. Heartened by displays of some of younger players in last two games against West Ham and Spurs;but wait with baited breath for Saturday as thats what really counts and Gordon Strachans new team will be wanting to impress the wee man.

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RetroBlue added 16:35 - Aug 4 well Town HAVE to be getting in some substantial repalcemnts to let go all these experineced (high wage earners) go........we're in big trouble if RK / Clegg cant secure these replacements! Im not a bit upset / sorry to see these players actually leave - more concerned that no one of note has yet come in !
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EatonBlue added 16:46 - Aug 4 Probably a good deal for all concerned and I personally felt that Walters has been wanting to leave for some time. However, it's a pity that deals such as this are done on the eve of the new season and not sooner. Is there any chance that a Stoke player will be coming here as part of the deal? Dave Kitson?
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Keaneish added 16:47 - Aug 4 If i was him i'd make the smart move and come to the Championship. Blackpool will be getting hammered week in week out. How much progression is that for a footballer?
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august10 added 16:49 - Aug 4 Don,t quite understand where we are going, only two players in a young untried midfielder from yes your guessed it Sunderland again!!! and an ageing left back. Seams that Keane can,t attract the players we need or has he something up his sleeve, we at the moment considerably weaker than last year and I honestly worry about the new season. Is Marcus Evans holding some cash back for a newman???? Does anyone know how many season tickets we have sold for new season.

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