Town’s chances of landing long-time target Joel Ward appear to have vastly increased with Leeds reported to be out of the running as their situation presently stands. As widely rumoured over the weekend, the Blues would seem to be the favourites to sign the 22-year-old Portsmouth defender or midfielder, who is said to be close to finally making his decision.

Leeds, the one-time frontrunners, are believed to have had trouble raising the fee which is understood to be in the region of £450,000.

Town and the Whites were two of six Championship clubs targeting Ward. Sheffield Wednesday were reported to have withdrawn from the race earlier in the week, while we understand Crystal Palace were unable to match the personal terms available elsewhere.

Burnley, managed by Eddie Howe, who was in charge at Bournemouth during Ward’s spell on loan with the Cherries, would appear to be the other strong contenders and along with Blackpool are also believed to have spoken to the one-time Pompey trainee.

Meanwhile, the Blues are close to adding 16-year-old 6ft 5in tall Norwegian keeper Michael Crowe to their Academy ranks for next season. Crowe, whose father is English and whose sister is at college locally, is currently with Kristiansand-based club IK Start.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

bejaysus added 21:21 - May 24 Most boring transfer story ever, If he signs fine, if he doesn't fine.
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rosseden added 21:22 - May 24 6' 5'' 16 year old keeper........ could be promising......
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jas0999 added 21:22 - May 24 Good. Clearly a top target so would be great to sign him.
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rosseden added 21:23 - May 24 Sindre - What can you tell us about the club this lad is at, they any good at developing youngsters?
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steveo21_itfc added 21:28 - May 24 saw yesterday in winchester look like was meeting freeman
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alfromcol added 21:29 - May 24 6' 5" and still growing, awesome!
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Keaneish added 21:36 - May 24 I fail to see what makes us favourites when Crystal Palace is closer to his family and Eddie Howe managed him at Bournemouth. I make us joint third with Blackpool!
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dommyboyblue added 21:40 - May 24 If I am honest I just do not get the saga. Signing an average championship utility player, could be ok but this whole thing is ridiculous. as with other posters I am more interested in this 16 year old kerper we are looking at.
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RYITFC added 21:43 - May 24 He's a good prospect the right age, tall and a right back. Really hope he signs!
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Lightningboy added 21:43 - May 24 Can we please withdraw from the race to sign this extremely overrated transfer target..let him stay at his beloved pompey.
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billlm added 21:50 - May 24 tut tut lightningboy
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riley26 added 21:51 - May 24 At around 400k even if he turns out to not be that great it isn't a major loss. I don't think the issue being drawn out should reflect the players ability? Why shouldn't he spend time weighing up his options, if he signs I think he can become a decent player to hold down a spot in the squad. If not, plenty of other options out there.
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Talbs77 added 21:57 - May 24 Hang on! Yesterday you said it was between us and Palace, now Burnley and Blackpool are back in it!! Could write a novel about this transfer and he's hardly Poalo Maldini!!!
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Garv added 21:57 - May 24 'said to be close to finally making his decision'. Haha!
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buryblue77 added 22:00 - May 24 I just hope that if he signs for us he turns out to be good, for the sake of the team and himself. He's going to get some stick if from a lot of fans the way our fans are known to turn on players if not.
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StowTractorBoy added 22:00 - May 24 How do people on here know he is overrated after all what do you get for £450000 these days. Pompey fans love him - just read their forums. He is young and just the sort of player we want. He can play right back and right midfield and from what I have seen of him is very energetic. Only my opinion but he is just the sort of player we need and I hope we get him. He gets stick on this site because of his so called dithering but no one knows what is actually going on. Good luck PJ/SC/ME hope you can pull it off.

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Talbs77 added 22:08 - May 24 I hope he is decent if he signs but why does every ITFC transfer take 6 months to sort out! They sign for 3 years then leave for nothing!!!
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stewartwonderland added 22:13 - May 24 I really hope we get him in, a versatile young player, highly rated by the Portsmouth fans and with six or so other championship clubs after him it doesn't take an idiot to work out that this guy has potential!
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Sindre94 added 22:18 - May 24 I am Norwegian. Crowe is VERY well talked of here and a huge talent, cant wait to sign him!!!!
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bluey420 added 22:20 - May 24 This transfer saga is like Lost going on n on wishing it would end but no idea how or when
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buryblue77 added 22:31 - May 24 Sindre, have you seen anything of Crowe? I hope he's as highly rated as you suggest, and if he is it also indicates that our scouting set up is doing what it is supposed to. I hope to see some signings soon and hopefully Crowe will be one of them, could well challenge Joe Hart for the England number one spot in a few years time....;-)
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strikalite added 22:35 - May 24 Headline will be....'Ward signs for Burnley' it's obvious... I honestly can't see why this guy needs so much bloody time to make the decision ffs, it's our fault though, the deadline should have been set a long time ago before others came sniffing...after looking round PR I'd say to his agent he has 48 hours to make a decision because we have other players to pursue...'kin easy!

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evansblue added 22:36 - May 24 Just the nature of football these days that we get all sorts of gossip and updates like this. In the old days we only knew of our interest once we signed someone. Not ipswich's fault or the players that deals turn in to sagas these days. That said I hope we sign him as a Pompey fan at work speaks very highly of him and the reports seem to indicate he is the type of player we need

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DalianAtkinson added 22:39 - May 24 More excited by the young keeper, if he's any good could be in the first team in a couple of years. Joel Ward would be great, but if he doesn't sign he doesn't sign. Like the LOST comparision, just when you think it's sorted another twist!
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Mark added 22:57 - May 24 I thought Ward was going to decide by Wednesday? This guy keeps us waiting almost as long as Grant Leadbitter! I hope we get him though, and the signs are looking good.
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