IPSWICH Town transfer target defender Jason Pearce has professed his love of employers Portsmouth.

However, the centre-back has admitted that his future could be out of his hands if his club – desperately trying to pay off a �1.6m tax bill – are forced to cash in on him.

Ipswich have offered �1.75m to Championship rivals Pompey for Pearce, versatile right-back Joel Ward and keeper Stephen Henderson.

Blues boss Paul Jewell is also understood to have muted the possibility of a swap deal involving captain Grant Leadbitter and defender Damien Delaney.

With the January transfer window closing tomorrow evening, Ipswich boss Paul Jewell watched Pearce head his side’s second goal in a 3-0 win at Peterborough on Saturday.

The 24-year-old then spoke of happiness at Fratton Park following his �300,000 summer return from Bournemouth, saying: “It’s all out of my hands.

“I love the club everyone, knows that. I want to stay here but no one knows what is going to happen with the current situation.

“I will always give 100 per cent though. It’s nice to be talked about and wanted – at the end of the day though, I’m a Portsmouth player and that’s all that matters.

“There’s a lot of talk but, at the end of the day, I’m here. I don’t know what is going to go on, I really don’t. All I can effect is what I do on the pitch. At the moment, it’s got nothing to do with me.

“With regard to the off the field stuff, if a bid is accepted, I can go and talk to them. I don’t have to accept anything, though. I just hope Portsmouth gets sorted out.”

Pompey boss Michael Appleton admits Pompey players have been ribbing Pearce and Ward – described as ‘two peas in a pod’ – in training, by calling them the ‘Tractor Boys’.

“There’s a bit of banter,” admitted Pearce. “I take it with a pinch of salt, get on with it and give 100 per cent in training and on the pitch.

“I don’t want to talk about it really. It’s got nothing to do with me. I’m a Portsmouth player and want to talk about Portsmouth.”

Reports on the south coast say that Portsmouth players haven’t been told anything about the perilous financial position the club is reportedly in ahead of a High Court hearing – set for February 20 – over their winding-up petition.

Pearce said: “We know what everyone else knows really. I see the stuff in the paper.

“They are keeping it quiet because they want to get the deal sorted. That’s good.

“We have to let people get on with it behind the scenes, concentrate on the football and let what will be, be.”