Pompey chase Holmes

Andy Barcham has this week arrived to fight for a place on the left flank, providing width the Blues lacked last season.

But Guy Whittingham is keen to add another attacking midfielder to his squad and Holmes is in the frame.

The News understands the 25-year-old has been in negotiations with Pompey this week.

He was at Fratton Park yesterday with his agent as talks continue over a move for the right winger, who is out of contract.

However, any prospective deal has still to be finalised and could be delayed by Whittingham heading off on holiday for the next two weeks.

Holmes was a fans’ favourite at Underhill but, following their relegation from the Football League, he has decided to move on.

He scored five goals in 27 appearances for the Bees this season before he was ruled out with a foot problem in February.

It was the reoccurrence of an injury suffered two years earlier when Holmes broke his fifth metatarsal and had a screw implanted.

The screw then broke, forcing him to undergo surgery – ruling him out of action for the remainder of the season.

Holmes has since recovered and is now eager to make a switch to Fratton Park.

The wide man made 104 appearances for Barnet, scoring 17 goals after joining from non-league Chelmsford City in the summer of 2010.

This season he scored a hat-trick against Burton, one of which was a penalty.

In his absence, though, the Bees suffered relegation from League Two.

Holmes has also been linked with moves to Southend and Leyton Orient.