This summer's transfer fun and games today took another intriguing twist when the Wolverhampton Express & Star claimed that Southend United star Freddy Eastwood would be Molineux-bound next week in a deal that could be worth up to ?1.5 million to the relegated Shrimpers.
Of more interest in this neck of the woods, however, was the paper's accompanying claim that Eastwood was facing “an immediate choice” between Wolves and Norwich as Canary boss Peter Grant continued in his hunt for a new frontman.
All of which then, of course, has further implications for the fate of Scunthorpe United hot-shot Billy Sharp with both Wolves and Norwich also understood to be locked in a ?2 million battle for his services.
While everyone from West Bromwich Albion to Watford have also been linked to Sharp, the presumption has always been that Andy Keogh's presence at Wolves would be the key that unlocks that door as Sharp teams up again with his old Irons pal.
What Sharp will not have been banking on is having to fight Eastwood for a starting place. And while competition for places is clearly healthy, if you are Sharp and have a third of the Championship beating a path to your door this summer, you're going to go somewhere where you are guaranteed games.
Two things are, at least, certain. That Sharp is going somewhere and that Eastwood is leaving Roots Hall. Where each ends up is still up for grabs – whatever the Express & Star may claim.
The fact that Grant and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy are ex-Celtic room-mates and big pals merely adds to the fascinating tug-of-war emerging as Steve Morgan's ?30 million arrival helps McCarthy's cause, the arrival of the Turners, Andrew and Sharon, quietly under-pinning Grant's new-found transfer muscle.
“We are reluctant sellers but at the same time we don't want to keep a player who isn't happy here,” Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin admitted to the Southend Echo earlier this week, as the newly-relegated Essex club effectively bowed to the inevitable and recognised that their star turn probably didn't fancy life back in League One.
“I wouldn't say Freddy was unhappy, but like every footballer he wants to be at the highest level he possibly can,” admitted Martin.
There is, equally, another compelling reason why Eastwood was always destined to go this summer – the fact that he will be out of contract this time next year and would, therefore, be able to walk out of Roots Hall on a free.
Southend have already batted away one, ?1 million approach from Wolves this summer and news of Eastwood's availability has clearly alerted everyone with a situation vacant for good, proven, goal-scoring little 'un in the ?1.5 million to ?2 million bracket.
Norwich have already proved that they fit that bill this summer after seeing Charlton Athletic whip Luke Varney off their hands as the Crewe striker headed to The Valley where a money-spinning four-year deal awaited and then, of course, slapping a similar potential fee in front of Scunthorpe United for Sharp.
“There has been continued interest in Freddy which is what you would expect because he only has a year left on his contract,” Martin told The Echo this week.
“The offers so far though have not been cost affective from our point of view. We know Freddy can be instrumental in helping us get back up into the Championship but then so could the money and you can never say never.”
Which is why Martin for one will be delighted that he now appears to have two players 'in play' for the 23-year-old as he looks to wrest the best possible price out of either club.
Given that the Canaries have already flashed up to ?2 million around this summer, you would presume that they ought to be able to match the ?1.25 million plus add-ons quoted by the Express & Star this morning; that Martin might reasonably be expected to pick up the phone to Carrow Road and say 'Any more…?'
A straight tug-of-war between Grant and McCarthy for Eastwood and/or Sharp is clearly likely to be only half the picture – Watford, for one, have yet to make their big-money striker move of the summer.
And it will be interesting to see whether Charlton call it quits for the summer on that front having bolted Varney in alongside fellow new arrival Chris Iwelumo – particularly as and when the expected Darren Bent cash rushes through the coffers.
Ipswich Town's hopes of the kind of ?2.8 million sell-on windfall that could finance their own Francis Jeffers deal went up in smoke overnight as Bent turned down a ?17 million move to West Ham United and a reported ?75,000 a week pay packet.
That, however, may only let Liverpool and Tottenham in as they play on the player's desire to move to one of the bigger boys and get the one-time Town youngster for a mere ?14 million – still likely to give Ipswich a ?2.3 million sell-on.
Two further questions await this summer. For just as it might prove difficult to sell Sharp a move to Wolves if he knows Eastwood is in place, so it might be difficult to sell Sharp a move to Norwich if he knows Robert Earnshaw is in place.
And if it's not all too confusing, given the current state of play you can just switch the words 'Eastwood' and 'Sharp' around in that sentence.
As for Jamie Cureton, well, the suspicion there is that you'll be sitting tight for at least another week or so and seeing which way the cookie crumbles; at 31, going on 32, age is not on your side compared to Messrs Sharp and Eastwood.
And nor are you going to come home to Norwich if you have an Earnshaw and a Sharp or an Eastwood ahead of you. And, likewise, if Norwich have a Sharp or an Eastwood in the building then are they necessarily going to have the will, the need or the funds to bring Jamie home? No, in every likelihood.
Jamie will just have to sit there and watch as this all plays out – just like the rest of us.
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