Leeds United’s failure to find the cash in order to sign Blues target Joe Ward is reported to be close scuppering the chances of the Whites landing the Portsmouth defender or midfielder. Neil Warnock’s club were believed to be heading the race having held talks with the 22-year-old soon after signing his former Pompey team-mate and close friend Jason Pearce.

Long-term admirers Town, Burnley and Crystal Palace are also all believed to have agreed a fee with Portsmouth’s administrator, variously claimed to be somewhere between £400,000 and £450,000.

Now Blackpool — who could be a Premier League side after today's Championship play-off final — are said to have submitted a written offer, while Sheffield Wednesday are also showing interest.

Ward is understood to be set to speak with the Seasiders and the Owls with his decision likely to be made at some point this week.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

uppersirbob added 10:43 - May 19 He is only going to the team that pays him the most which wont be ITFC
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irishtim added 10:43 - May 19 Let him bugger off. If he wanted to be at portman road he already would be. Lets move on. Get players who want to wear the ipswich jersey with pride & be succesful.
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eaii added 10:44 - May 19 Well if all the other clubs struggle as well then he might just finally listen to Clegg and join Ipswich but again IF all the other clubs fail to get the money.
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singtown added 10:47 - May 19 This is a no brainer. If blackpool gets promoted, he'll join them. If not, he'll go for the next best paid salary. All these talk of on-going discussions with numerous clubs are just for him to buy time. In my view, let this chap go, he'll not play with heart & soul even if we land him
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geography26 added 10:51 - May 19 He's going to Blackpool.
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Mungo added 10:55 - May 19 I appreciate that this is a big decision for the lad, but this is getting a bit silly now, and bordering on rude. At the end of the day its a job offer, a 'yes or no' question, and to leave Town (and other clubs) hanging on for months while he waits for a better offer is just not polite (although it may be another sign that wages across the board are lower than they used to be and players will have to get used to this). I think some fans are losing patience with him already, which could cause problems if he was to sign. We should withdraw our offer if we don't receive an answer shortly...

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rosseden added 11:03 - May 19 if the contract is 3 years in length, and he has a career until he is 34, this is a decicision about 25% of his future career commitment. As 'normal' people the equivalent would be signing up to an employer for 10 years. and whop would do that? Id rather he meets everyone, and takes his time, then moves. Far better than players who jump at the first sign of a few quid..... And for the record, i hate mercenary footballers, the fact he wants to meet everyone, says to me he isnt quite that yet...... there seems to be more at stake for him so he wants to make the right decision. If it was about the highest offer, why bother meeting people, the deal would just be done...... I would say we pull out if nothing comes good end of next week tho.......

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Bergholtblue added 11:12 - May 19 Really bored with this story now. I don't care where he ends up.
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stewartwonderland added 11:17 - May 19 This is great news for us as Leeds were favourites to sign him and now sound like they have missed out. So it's between us, Palace, Burnley, Sheff Wed & Blackpool. Come on Town lets get this guy in, I think us fans need to hear some positive news from the club for a change!
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WorcesterBlue added 11:21 - May 19 Are we really still in for him? Surely we've moved on once it became clear he wasn't interested. Let's get Caddis in instead and more importantly a decent centre back and goalie!!
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bluey123 added 11:22 - May 19 He says he is considering the clubs who can forward his career,get to the premiership and good facilities I am afraid we only tick one box so he will not come to PR
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Guthrum added 11:24 - May 19 Why would he not play to the best of his ability at Town just because he's considered his move carefully before signing up? A lot of you are confusing football players with football fans. Very few footballers who are not from Ipswich and who are playing at a similar or higher level would jump the moment Town came calling. Also, it's not like we're getting to the end of the window and time is short. Transfers can't even be registered until the beginning of July. At least we believe we're still in the running and one of our rivals appears to be dropping out.

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ozzydog added 11:26 - May 19 ITFC are really looking in the wrong places,ditch this bloke, search the lower leagues and abroad for young eager talent and build from there.
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manualthetisfanclub added 11:31 - May 19 This is so boring,could not give a stuff who signs him.he's just an average player,nothing special!would rather have players who want to play for us,people like Stevenson,at least he's desperate to where the shirt! Ward is just a mercenary, not that big a decision,the guy is only 22 FFA!!!
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dunkz84 added 11:33 - May 19 In other news Craig Gordon has been released by sunderland! Worth a punt? *not really interested but just incase leeds are reading*
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Michael11 added 11:42 - May 19 After all this talk and chasing where would he actually play for us anyway? hes not an out and out centre back and Carlos got player of the year at right back?
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Marcus added 11:46 - May 19 Not many players have moved, the play offs mark the end of the season. If a player has a chance to play top level at a critical point in his career then why would anyone think badly of it? At 22 can't really call him a mercenary, just someone weighing up options. Next week will see the start of the moves by most will be after Euro 2012.
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martin12120137 added 11:48 - May 19 i dont give a monkeys about him anymore if he wants to sign for us he would have by now i think we should look in lower leagues more for players they have so much more hunger and desire! although i did see sunderland have released craig gordon they payed 9m for him 4 years ago so much have seen something in him!!
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Garv added 12:02 - May 19 Martin I believe that was a Keane signing so I wouldn't think too much about what they paid for him. We paid £2.5m for Grant Leadbitter and £1.7m for Tamas Priskin for goodness sake. Ward won't get games in the premier league, his best bet is a team like us or Wednesday, though Palace could also be seen as an attractive option.
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ArnieM added 12:30 - May 19 Leeds faltering to find the cash eh ! Like I said, put Leeds at the top of your "Clubs going into Administration" League for next season, along with WHU, Birmingham , Cardiff and Leicester !
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Dissboyitfc added 12:40 - May 19 singtown... not a no brainer at all as Garv says hes gonna want games , probably a bench warmer in the prem. I dont believe he is a mercenary, would have left portsmouth earlier, had it only been about money. Mungo...you make a cracking point about rudeness,Ward has had plenty long enough, dont want to be his second , third or fourth choice, besides which do we really need an allround utility player that much? We need specialist players in their dedicated positions. It will take Jewell 2 seasons to work out where to use him......Look elsewhere i say....coyb

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TimmyH added 12:53 - May 19 zzzzzzzzzz....yawn!
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moggasnotebook added 13:42 - May 19 Joel Ward, if you are reading this, some ITFC fans will think MORE of you if you choose the blues after you have heard what all the other clubs interested have had to say! Some of the fools above are going to be chuffed to bits if you sign despite them posting rubbish such as 'we do not want him now' and 'taken too long to make his mind up' Take your time and hopefully you will choose ITFC!

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walberswick added 13:43 - May 19 Losing the will to l..i..v..e....................................
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moggasnotebook added 13:50 - May 19 If we have not signed anybody by end of June then you can start whinging - If you do not want to read about players we are linked with (and the updates) then do not log on!
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