The prospect of Jamie Cureton's potential new Czech mate, David Strihavka, signing on at Carrow Road moved a step closer this morning when it was revealed that he is due in Norwich today to discuss his possible switch from Banik Ostrava.
You get the feeling that this particular grand tour will have a more positive outcome than Billy Sharp's recent red carpet treatment and it seems all of those hours scouring Eastern Europe for a hidden gem have finally borne fruit.
According to www.fcb.cz, the club's official website, it was decided on Sunday that Strihavka will travel to Norfolk for talks. Tellingly, he said, for negotiations, not for any sort of trial.
The 6ft 3 Czech striker has already been there, done that.
In January he wore the yellow of Watford in a practice match, netting twice, but they could not agree a deal and he returned to Banik where he finished the season in impressive form.
In fact, he ended the season as the top scorer in the Czech Premier League, helping Banik to a sixth place finish with 13 goals in 28 appearances.
“On Sunday, it was decided that we will travel to Norwich to negotiate a possible transfer,” Strihavka confirmed.
“But I will not go for another trial. This time it is more about doing the deal.”
The Czech club expect some sort of conclusion to the deal by Wednesday, where it will be decided whether he joins the Canaries or returns to his homeland ? which is extremely refreshing to hear after the drawn out Sharp saga.
Strihavka was, however, keen to point out that his switch to the Championship wasn't done and dusted, as some people seem to believe.
It would be a big surprise now if he didn't put pen to paper, but as we all know with the beautiful game, only when the giant Czech comes striding through the doors at Colney with his freshly signed contract in hand, should we assume anything.
“So far I have gone nowhere,” added Strihavka.
“I had a talk with our manager because I wanted to know his opinion on this matter but we shall see how negotiations in England go.”
Ironically, with all the talk of the merits of get-out clauses and their place in the modern game, the Banik website also revealed that Strihavka has an Earnshaw style clause of his own, although I doubt it is anywhere near the ?3.5m mark.
City boss Peter Grant this morning expressed his disappointment at the nature of Earnshaw's departure, feeling that the negative nature of this style of contract was a sad indictment of the football world we now live in.
“We got an offer on Wednesday from Derby for Robert, but it set alarm bells ringing in my mind – obviously someone was selling him behind my back,” Grant told the EDP.
“I think the way things moved as quickly and Earnie ending up having the medical as quickly, you can sense that it had obviously been going on, which is the modern day game, unfortunately. It's disappointing in the respect of the way it happened.
“To attract the very best players sometimes it's the get-out clause that you have to have with them,” he said. “It is not just here – look at Celtic and Nakamaura – all the top players have buy-out clauses. Unfortunately agents don't keep that quiet.
“As soon as it suits them they'll use that because they know they will make finance from it as well.
“It's the biggest problem you have with players now. When I used to play you were just delighted to sign for a club, it was negative if people were talking about when you leave.
“But that's the way it is now, especially players who come out of the Premier League. If they come to your club they are going to say to you, 'well, there's going to be a buy-out clause'.
“They are saying if you are in the Championship and not going to be in the Premier League in two or three years time I want to play Premier League.
“I don't mind that ambition, as long as when you put it in you feel there is a reasonable value about it. It is part of life – sometimes it can be that small detail to win that guy around.
“Unfortunately it is not just this club – all 92 clubs, even the smallest clubs, there will be the same thing: permission to speak at x, y and z amount of money.”
Tom Haylett
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