Town are again being linked with Bournemouth central defender Jason Pearce, who is also said to be interesting his former club Portsmouth. The Cherries are reported to want £750,000 for the 23-year-old, who has previously been mentioned in connection with Burnley and Barnsley, while a move to Peterborough was close a fortnight ago.
Posh seemed set to complete a £500,000 deal until Bournemouth discovered that the previous Dean Court regime which had signed him from Portsmouth in August 2007 had agreed to a 50% sell-on clause which scuppered the switch.
Hillingdon-born Pearce came through the youth system at Portsmouth but failed to make a senior appearance for Pompey.
During his time at Fratton Park the 6ft 1½in tall centre-half spent time on loan at Bognor Regis Town and Woking before joining the Cherries on a free transfer.
Since then Pearce, who is contracted until 2013, has established himself as a key member of the Bournemouth side as they have progressed from League Two strugglers to League One play-off semi-finalists. In January 2010 he was named the Cherries’ first team captain.
Earlier in the week, Town boss Paul Jewell confirmed that he had made an enquiry regarding Preston centre-half Sean St Ledger, although no firm offer was on the table at that point, and Pearce may be seen as an alternative if the Blues and Lilywhites can’t agree a deal for the Ireland international.
Jewell will be keen to complete more moves before pre-season training begins on June 29th with his former Wigan striker Nathan Ellington, who is understood to have held talks at Portman Road earlier in the week, appearing likely to be the next man through the door.
Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk