TWTD understands that Town’s joint bid is for Portsmouth duo Jason Pearce and Joel Ward (left). Blues boss Paul Jewell revealed that he had made offers for three players, two at the same club, after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool.

Right-back or midfielder Ward, 22, came through the youth system at hometown club Pompey, spending the 2008/09 season out on loan at Bournemouth.

Standing 6ft 2in tall, Ward made his Portsmouth first team debut the following Premier League season and has now made 57 starts and 18 sub appearances for Pompey, scoring five goals. He signed a contract until June 2013 a year ago.

Hillingdon-born Pearce also began his career with Pompey’s youth set-up but after spells on loan at Bognor Regis Town and Woking joined Bournemouth on a permanent basis in August 2007.

The 6ft 1½in tall centre-half established himself as a key member of the Bournemouth side as they progressed from League Two strugglers to League One play-off semi-finalists. In January 2010 he was named the Cherries’ first team captain.

Last summer, after a failed bid from Peterborough and reported interest from the Blues amongst others, Pearce returned to Pompey for a fee of £300,000 rising to £600,000 after milestone clauses are met, signing a three-year deal. This season the 24-year-old has made 24 starts and has scored one goal.

Portsmouth are currently in the midst of yet another change of ownership with parent company Convers Sports Initiatives having gone into administration in November. Despite an already depleted squad, Pompey could be forced to sell members of their playing staff to raise funds.

Pearce

The identity of the third player, a teenager, according to the quotes from Jewell released earlier today, remains a mystery. Players matching that profile linked in recent months include Preston striker Jamie Proctor, Southend midfielder Kane Ferdinand and Leyton Orient winger George Porter.

Town are reported to be expecting a response from Portsmouth in the next 48 hours

Photos: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

East_of_England added 17:37 - Jan 17 Not a chance. Pearce is their most important player and is not on silly wages.
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lawshallgirls added 17:42 - Jan 17 I think jewell will get the 3 plus 1 other player if sean St ledger becomes available and Carson will also sign this month!!
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Jack_hughes2 added 17:45 - Jan 17 Be two good signings, was impressed with them at portman road this season, I would still like to see matt ritchie come from swindon though, looks a very talented player
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arc added 17:53 - Jan 17 Young players let go by Portsmouth to save money and ending up at Ipswich... Mick Mills...
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tractorboy1961 added 17:55 - Jan 17 Jewell, come and tell us when you have something to tell us....like we have actually signed somebody! In the meantime please work with your coaching staff to sort out our defence just in case we don't get anybody new in by Saturday.
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walberswick added 17:56 - Jan 17 sounds good, but who will actually be left playing for Portsmouth? The u18 team? never gonna happen.
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tractorboy2434 added 18:30 - Jan 17 I will believe it when it happens, no evidence this is anything more than rumour and even if true Pompey may well say no, he should concentrate on sorting out a team to get a result on Sat as we are still in deep trouble.
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Edinburgh_Blue added 18:30 - Jan 17 Sounds promising to me. Youth, height and will fill the gaps we desperately need to fill. Round pegs in round holes and all that!
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MickMillsTash added 18:36 - Jan 17 I remember Ward from the match in October and thought he was very good. I rarely remember the opposition - Ward, Scannel, Rodriguez and Chris Burke are the only ones from this season.
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TractorBeezer added 18:40 - Jan 17 arc We also signed Ray Crawford as a 22 year old from Portsmouth. What a fantastic buy.
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hollywoodginge added 18:43 - Jan 17 Saw Pearce play for Bournemouth in the play offs, he was immense, was gutted we didn't sign him.
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Tractastic added 18:46 - Jan 17 Fans player ratings for Portsmouth Player of the Year 2011 from the www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk fan site. Looks promising. Hayden Mullins - 47.37% Greg Halford - 26.32% Jason Pearce - 15.79% Joel Ward - 10.53% David 'Chuck' Norris - 0% Luke 'Reg' Varney - 0%
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paulnstar added 18:55 - Jan 17 sounds like two world beaters from high flying pompey my god its getting worse
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TractorBoy666 added 18:59 - Jan 17 Another pair now? Next it'll be Port Vale's pair!
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Lombokblue added 19:01 - Jan 17 He seems to have a plan.
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bluelady added 19:04 - Jan 17 Tractorboy1961 this isnt jewell speaking, this is rumours that are circulating and as they are on here Phil feels have some substance behind them.............
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alfromcol added 19:06 - Jan 17 walberswick and Norris!!
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WoodfordTim added 19:18 - Jan 17 Will Pompey really let them go even if the fee is right and do they want to come here? So hard to get transfers finalised. Must be a nightmare, especially with agents involved.
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Pompey added 19:31 - Jan 17 Both these lads are staying at Fratton Park. They are integral to Michael Appleton's plans - unless that is you have 20 million to spend. So, like the rest of you, jewel is dreaming.
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ian_marshall added 19:40 - Jan 17 F@CK OFF POMPEY, POMPEY F@CK OFF!
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TractorBeezer added 19:43 - Jan 17 What a spoilsport you are Pompey! Anyway, deep down you know that your new owners will trump Appleton.
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Michael11 added 19:43 - Jan 17 Lets face it they are two regulars in a pompey team as poor as us so whether they'd dramatically improve the team i don't know, i've heard Pearce is very solid and the only game i've seen Ward play was against Southampton in their derby where he scored a good header, get them in clegg!!
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Pompey added 19:44 - Jan 17 That ian marshal...sharp as a tack. How long did it take you to think that one up?
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ian_marshall added 19:47 - Jan 17 Sorry pompey you must get bored of hearing that every week.
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TimmyH added 19:49 - Jan 17 MORE SPECULATION....
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