Portsmouth duo in Lambert's sights

Norwich City are interested in Portsmouth defensive duo Joel Ward and Jason Pearce after scouting the pair on Saturday.

Canaries boss Paul Lambert sent his top spy to Fratton Park to check on the young centre-back pairing as he eyes potential bargains in the summer transfer window. Pompey are expected to lose players again this year after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed by their 2-1 home defeat to Derby County. Pearce, who has made 43 starts in the Championship this season, cost just £400,000 from Bournemouth last summer and was last week named the local newspaper's Player of the Year. Leeds United, Burnley and Ipswich have also been linked to him but Norwich could offer a higher level of football for him next season. The 24-year-old defender was linked with a free transfer to Leeds this week but he still has two years left on his Pompey contract. Ward, 22, is another former Pompey youth team player who made his first-team breakthrough when they were in the Premier League two years ago. Comfortable at the back or in midfield, Ward was the subject of a £1.5million joint bid from Ipswich in January but he refused to go to Portman Road.