Brendan Rodgers has claimed Portsmouth have out-bid Reading for Tommy Smith but is hopeful his protracted attempts to sign the versatile forward will not end in failure.

However, contradictory reports from the south coast claim the 29-year-old is a "certain" arrival at Fratton Park and will be unveiled before Pompey's home date with Manchester City on Sunday.

The 29-year-old was set to complete his move to the Madejski Stadium before the Royals exited the Carling Cup with a last-gasp 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley, but a dramatic twist in events saw the player head to the south coast for talks with the Premiership club.

The Watford Observer understands Smith had a medical at Pompey, while red-faced Reading officials had to cancel a press conference called to unveil their expected new signing.

If the 29-year-old does conclude his move to the south coast it would represent a massive blow for Rodgers, who thought he finally had his man after a drawn out saga that could have netted the Hornets more than £2m, and would leave the Royals boss with little time to find a replacement before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

While the terms of Smith's move to the Madejski Stadium would have been undisclosed, assuming the deal does not go through, we understand the Hornets would have received £1.6m up front and were almost certain to get the £1.8m they were asking for, injuries permitting, through a £200,000 add-on based on Smith making 100 appearances for the Royals.

Smith passed his medical at Reading’s Hogwood Park training ground on Monday, having already said goodbye to his Watford team-mates.

The saga over Smith’s move to Reading has dragged on for almost two months, following the Royals initial £750,000 offer, which was described as “derisory” by Watford chairman Jimmy Russo.

The relationship between the two clubs was already strained, following Rodgers' decision to leave Watford to take over from Steve Coppell at his adopted home-town club.

And Watford considered reporting Rodgers and Reading to the Football League last month after the Northern Irishman claimed Smith wanted to join him at the Madejski Stadium, despite the Royals not having permission to talk to the 29-year-old.

Smith turned down Sheffield United after their successful £1.8m offer and although Newcastle and Portsmouth had made enquiries about the forward, neither had tabled bids until Pompey made their dramatic move yesterday.

After Reading had a £1.2m and last week’s final ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offer rejected, Russo released a statement on Sunday confirming the Royals had pulled out of the race to sign Smith because they were unwilling to pay the £200,000 appearance add-on.

However, by the following day the two clubs had come to an agreement and Smith was in Reading having his medical.

Smith, who has previously had spells with Derby County and Sunderland, had a poor start to this season but the 29-year-old has scored two and helped set up three in his last two games for the club.

Smith has won the Watford Observer player-of-the-season award for the past two campaigns and is the club’s joint 13th all-time highest scorer on 64 goals, alongside Heidar Helguson.

To read Rodgers’ comments about Smith on Sky Sports, click here.

To read Rodgers’ comments about Smith in the Reading Post, click here.

To read the Portsmouth News’ take on the twist in the saga, click here.