IPSWICH Town have had a deadline day bid for Jason Pearce rejected by Portsmouth.

The centre-back has become Paul Jewell’s top target this month with Town submitting a reported four bids for the defender, as well as showing strong interest in team mates Joel Ward and Stephen Henderson.

But the Blues’ attempts to snap up the 24-year-old before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline have been hit by cash-strapped Pompey’s resistance to sell.

The South Coast club have also rejected two other bids for Pearce from Championship clubs with the player himself saying at the weekend he didn’t want to move.

Ipswich must now decide whether to up their bid in the final hours of the window with chief executive Simon Clegg working through the night to get the protracted negotiations completed.

Having looked a dead deal this morning, we understand the club are still looking to bring in one, two or maybe all three players from their divisional rivals.

But they might have to pay over the odds to get their main man – something most fans would support if it meant Pearce’s signature.