Joe Ward set for City? | The Stacey West

There has been increased speculation tonight that Brighton wide man Joe Ward is set for a move to the Imps.

On the back of a good day for fans of the club, news of a fresh face will only heighten the anticipation of the weeks ahead. It’s no secret that we are looking to strengthen, and if rumour is to be believed we will be welcoming the winger in the next 24 hours or so.

Ward signed for potential fourth round opponents Brighton in 2015 after a good spell with Chelmsford City. It will come as no surprise to hear us linked with a player who excelled in the Conference South given the brothers intimate knowledge of that league.

The 21-year-old winger progressed through Chelmsford’s youth ranks, and signed for Albion for a reported £20k in the summer of 2015. Since then he has been with the Brighton development squad, but he hasn’t broken through into the first team at the Amex.

He did make something of a name for himself at Chelmsford though, playing 44 games in the 2014/15 season and registering 11 goals from out wide. It hasn’t been possible to force his way into the first team with the Championship leaders, but he is proven at non-league level.

Ward netted ten goals in 44 appearances in his first full season with Chelmsford, and that earned him a two-match trial. Speaking to seagulls.co.uk upon his arrival he said:

“I’m really happy; I’ve been at Chelmsford for a year-and-a-half and done well and I wanted a move like this. I originally had a two-week trial and played in the games against Stoke and Aston Villa. I thought I did quite well and didn’t look out of place. I’ve just kept my head down started playing well and always hoped that something like this would happen.”

He’s featured four times for Brighton’s under 23 side this season in the EFL Trophy, coming on as an 81st minute substitute for them in Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Coventry City. With them out of that competition perhaps Brighton feel it is time for him to get some regular football?

The rumours of incoming players have also been fuelled tonight as property guru to th club, Matt Hardwicke, has tweeted the need for a two bedroomed house in the City apparently to house players. If Ward is coming to fill the Harry Anderson sized hole then I don’t think he’ll be the last player we see arriving.

Another rumoured Imps target, Nicke Kabamba has reportedly been training with League Two side Portsmouth to see if club and player are ‘a fit’. There’s nothing concrete yet, but it seems Pompey are looking to make the most of the Jamal Lowe / Kabamba partnership from Hampton and Richmond.