Ipswich target Joel Ward has NOT had a medical at Championship rivals Crystal Palace, despite rumours to the contrary.

But TWTD can reveal that the South London club have been told by the player's representatives that the £500,000-rated Portsmouth utility man is set to end the long-running transfer saga and decide over the weekend which club he is going to join.

A source close to the Eagles said: "There is no truth in the rumours that Ward has already had a medical at Palace. They are still waiting to hear which club he will be joining.

"All they know at this stage is that it has become a two-horse race between themselves and another Championship club, which could or could not be Ipswich."

The fact that Town have yet to receive a response to the take-it-or-leave-it offer made by club owner Marcus Evans several weeks ago, when 22-year-old Ward visited Portman Road and the training ground for discussions, suggests they remain in contention to sign him.

But despite reports that Leeds are out of the running TWTD understands the position at Elland Road is that they must first sell a player before being able to conclude a deal for Ward.

If boss Neil Warnock is able to raise the much-needed cash over the next couple of days he could move quickly to reunite Ward with his former Fratton Park colleague, central defender Jason Pearce, another player who was on Town boss Paul Jewell's wanted list.

Leeds' position could explain why Ward has waited so long to decide where his future lies, although it now seems the player is close to finally revealing which club has won the race for his signature.

Photo: Action Images

BoredWithThisNow added 15:19 - May 25 "utility man" - if that's a term that doesn't excite you, nothing will. That's why the long-term success of Ipswich Town Football Club depends on this crucial signing.
0

stiffy501 added 15:34 - May 25 Same old saga !! while we're hanging on for this idiot to make up his mind , others are signing up players !! when he finally decides not to join us we'll be left with the dregs that no one else wants !! as usual !!
0

dalinghooblue added 15:34 - May 25 If Leeds sell us Pearce, then they can afford to buy Ward
0

Paddy39 added 15:44 - May 25 What p1sses me off, we have put up with this saga of him saying he'll make his mind up by the middle of the week. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Thursday the middle of the week or can any day be the middle of the week if you are a footballer. Personally I'd fcuk him off now and be done with it.
0

Vexorg added 15:47 - May 25 Why does moving to us show more ambition than moving to Crystal Palace?
0

Unitunit added 15:52 - May 25 BoredWithThisNow - How do you get notifications on your Iphone of TWTD news? Thanks
0

dirtydingusmagee added 16:02 - May 25 the cough that was heard in the medical room was just the cleaner apparently settle down !
0

evansblue added 16:15 - May 25 If he comes great if he doesn't then its no big deal. Either way we still need 5 or 6 players to turn a pretty mediocre team in to a team challenging for the top 6.
0

BoredWithThisNow added 16:25 - May 25 Unitunit The news updates go to my email which I have set up on my phone. So everytime I get a new email I just pray that it's news that Joel has chosen us ahead of evil Palace.
0

bluey123 added 16:36 - May 25 Just heard on the radio if Martinez goes to Liverpool Jewell is third favourite to go to Wigan I live in hopes
0

Urchin added 16:48 - May 25 Bluey - now thats a thought- it had crossed my mind but ..... still there's hope and there's fantasy - not sure what side of the line that thought is
0

denhamblue added 16:50 - May 25 zzzz stretches yawns falls asleep
0

Garv added 17:03 - May 25 Stiffy501 that has to be a wind up! Haha! Yep, no one is left by June, darn it!
0

Monkaz added 17:11 - May 25 And soon it will be he will make a decision on Tuesday and then the following Saturday and then in 2052.
0

tim added 17:16 - May 25 The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp.
0

manualthetisfanclub added 17:34 - May 25 Sky sports reckon palace are to sign him,good riddance I say,fed up with the bloke to be honest,so blatantly obvious he doesn't want to come here,why did they bother with him!pj should have moved on months ago!jog on ward!
0

bedsitfc added 17:46 - May 25 he is only 22 but by the time he makes his mind up he will be about to retire
0

billlm added 17:47 - May 25 i read that to obviously a mummys boy apron strings dont reach the A12,BUT A SAD DAY FOR TOWN WHEN A PLAYER SEES PALACE AS A BETTER PROPOSITION.
0

marcus139 added 17:47 - May 25 Aaaaaagggggghhhhhhhh!!!!! I believe another word for a "Utiility" is a "Tool". We should have withdrawn ages ago from signing this "Tool" of a player as this just makes us look desperate.
0

theblueginger added 18:09 - May 25 One of 2 things will now happen: 1. He signs and is sh1te 2.He goes elsewhere and is playing in the PL within the next couple of seasons.
0

RetroBlue added 18:09 - May 25 I suspect ITFC are actually quite happy about all this Ward speculation as it kinda detracts from all the other players we are targeting, in the hope we can sneak in under the radar of other potential rival bids.......I wish !
0

Bluewelshman added 18:15 - May 25 According to a family member who is close to the Blackpool board, his agent kept on changing the wage and signing on fee every time another team showed interest, and since the play off final they can't get Ward or his agent on the phone. This sums him up as a total mercenary bumping up his demands every time there is a story about his transfer move in the press. Lets move on, we have had no confirmation that we are even in the running for him anymore, although we might do if he keeps p*****g off every club interesed in him. Come on lets find a player who wants to be here for the shirt and love of the game rather than his paypacket.

0

leroy2488 added 18:18 - May 25 Would it be possible to start chasing all the other players we really need like a goalkeeper, a good centre back and a big centre forward? I hope it's not going to be just like every other year.
0

Mr_Evans added 18:44 - May 25 I hope he signs, at the end of the day we want the best players playing for our club. It's good he's taking his time, whether we're his first choice or not I don't care, I just want the best players possible wearing our club badge and playing at 3pm Saturday afternoons!
0

BillBlue added 18:46 - May 25 "dvdkev added 13:52 - May 25 this is becoming the most boring transfer saga ever !!!!!! " Not becoming DVD, it is! We truly do not want to sign this guy he, or his agent, are money scroungers and would only join us since every other avenue had closed on them. In January I said we did not want this guy in our team and absolutely nothing has changed so forget him. Phil can you not let that Rag run this one by themselves? (Please!). COYB

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls