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Dundee's Johnny Russell

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also been linked with james mcfadden

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Leeds United are reported to be close to beating the Blues to the signature of Portsmouth’s Joel Ward. Town have been targeting the 22-year-old since January when a fee was agreed for Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson on the final day of the transfer window but the moves broke down over personal terms.

Henderson subsequently joined West Ham but Ward was at Portman Road in March to hold talks with the Blues prior to the loan deadline.

However, Portsmouth’s administrator decided not to sell with Pompey at that point still in with a chance of keeping their Championship status but with Jewell believing Ward was “keen to come” to Town having spoken to him.

Central defender Jason Pearce, who the Blues also targeted in January when Pompey rebuffed their offer along with others, recently completed a switch to Leeds for £500,000, signing a four-year deal.

Pearce and Ward are close friends having come through the youth ranks at Fratton Park and the versatile midfielder or defender may well be keen to be reunited with his former team-mate at Elland Road.

Back in January, Pompey boss Michael Appleton said, perhaps presciently: “They are two peas in a pod, where one goes the other follows."

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He is naturally a centre back, but has made his breakthrough into the first team as both right back and defensive midfielder.

Mainly a central defender in the start of his professional career,[20] Ward proved his versatility in 2010-11 season with Steve Cotterill, playing, in the start of the season, as a right back,[21] but also playing some matches as a central midfielder,[22] right midfielder [23] and as an attacking midfielder

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Vital Leeds United is keeping fans up to date with all the latest transfer rumours over the summer with Neil Warnock looking to build a squad capable of mounting a promotion challenge next season.

Well apart from all the football forums that have Leeds linked with most players below the Premier League from so many people supposedly 'in the know,` it has been a relatively quiet week.

Apart from those being linked in week one with a move to Leeds, there has been few rumours in the papers it seems.

Peterborough United striker George Boyd has been placed on the transfer list at London Road and there have been links with Leeds for the striker who netted just eight times in forty-eight appearances last season.

It seems we are about to raid our neighbours from down the road at the Keepmoat, with three players from relegated Doncaster Rovers being linked with a move.

Defenders George Friend and Tommy Spurr as well as midfielder Simon Gillett are all being linked with a move to Elland Road.

Leeds have also been linked with another player recently relegated from the championship.

Coventry City defender Richard Keogh is being linked with a move to Leeds but as yet there has been no rumours linking Leeds with a move for his teammate Sammy Clingan, who was a target for Simon Grayson last summer. The midfielder is out of contract at the Ricoh Arena.

The one player from week one who looks close to a move to Elland Road is versatile Portsmouth defender/midfielder Joel Ward. According to reports in the week, the 22 year old has been in Leeds this week having contract negotiations with the club

If you read in the papers, any players linked with a move to or from Leeds, then please let us know on Vital Leeds.


Week 1

IN
El Hadji Diouf - (Doncaster)
Alan Smith - (Newcastle)
Jermaine Beckford - (Leicester)
Stuart Beavon - (Wycombe Wanderers)
Jason Pearce - (Portsmouth) Signed
Greg Halford - (Portsmouth)
Joel Ward - (Portsmouth)
Luke Varney - (Portsmouth)
David Norris - (Portsmouth)
Ben Watson - (Wigan Athletic)
Paul Green - (Derby County)
Darren Ambrose - (Crystal Palace)
Sol Bamba - (Leicester City)
Matt Mills - (Leicester City)
Jermaine Beckford - (Leicester City)

Out
Aidy White - (Newcastle United)
Ramon Nunez - (Doncaster Rovers)

Week 2

IN
George Boyd - (Peterborough United)
George Friend - (Doncaster Rovers)
Simon Gillett - (Doncaster Rovers)
Tommy Spurr - (Doncaster Rovers)
Richard Keogh - (Coventry City)

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The future of Portsmouth’s Joel Ward is set to be decided in the next 48 hours with Leeds United leading the race to sign the defender.

Ward spent the weekend considering interest from four Championship clubs and is preparing to conclude a transfer out of Fratton Park in the coming days.

The 22-year-old has attracted widespread interest and Leeds made their move last week by inviting him to Yorkshire for talks about a deal.

The versatile right-back travelled back to the south coast after the discussions and has taken time to assess his next move.

United are attempting to head off approaches from Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace and Burnley and make Ward their second signing of the summer.

The Elland Road club have already invested £500,000 in centre-back Jason Pearce, who joined from Fratton Park earlier this month, and Portsmouth, who are in administration, stand to earn another six-figure fee from the sale of Ward.

Warnock has not commented on Ward specifically but the United boss is keen to maintain the speed of his recruitment drive after finalising the signing of Pearce immediately after the end of the Championship season.

Warnock said: “I’m working hard and we’ve been talking to a lot of people over the last seven days or so.

“It was great to get (Pearce) done and I’d like to get my next one sorted quickly too. It’s going to be like that right through the summer. The quicker the better for me.”

Ipswich’s interest in Ward has been public knowledge for many weeks and the Suffolk club were among the clubs vying to recruit Pearce.

Palace and Burnley have joined the fight for Ward’s signature and he is expected to depart Fratton Park before the end of the week.

Pompey are pushing to confirm his sale as they look to tackle serious financial problems.

Administrator Trevor Birch said: “Joel Ward will, I think, be the next one to go. There are two or three Championship clubs interested in him.”

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Leeds United target Paul Green hopes to finalise his departure from Derby County later this week, with Middlesbrough and Ipswich also chasing his signature.

The Republic of Ireland international has indicated that a deal to take him from Pride Park is imminent after rejecting a new contract with the Rams.

Green, 29, is out of contract at the end of next month and will be officially available on a free transfer on July 1, and Leeds are at the centre of another intense tussle to sign him.

United staved off competition from Ipswich and Norwich City to sign centre-back Jason Pearce and are also looking to beat three Championship clubs to the signature of Portsmouth right-back Joel Ward.

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