The transfer whirlwind engulfing Carrow Road showed little sign of abating today as rumours flew in all directions – be it of the gone, coming or staying put variety.
That said, Canary boss Peter Grant did suggest he could now see a little calm after all the recent storms – provided he nailed down “one or two” more fresh faces.
The Daily Record today suggested that one of those would be David Marshall with the paper claiming that the final transfer figure for the 22-year-old's services wouldbe nearer the ?750,000 mark as opposed to City's initial ?500,000 bid.
Marshall's colourful agent Willie Mackay hinted over the weekend that a medical was pencilled in for Tuesday – all of which suggested that Norwich's goalkeeping department was likely to be five-strong sooner rather than later.
With Czech striker David Strihavka himself confirming that he was Norfolk-bound for talks on the official Banik Ostrava website, that would cover the “one or two” additional faces that Grant was hinting out.
As for reports of Youssef Safri's potential exit, one paper had the Moroccan international turning down a move to West Bromwich Albion after the Birmingham Mail suggested earlier this week that the 30-year-old was the subject of a Baggies' feasibility study.
With Frenchman Julien Brellier now in the building following yesterday's free transfer arrival of the long-time Hearts favourite, where that leaves the Moroccan playmaker is something of a moot point.
For now, at least, he was still officially on holiday having been granted an extra week off by the City chief.
Speaking yesterday, Grant appeared wholly at ease with the prospect of having both Safri and Brellier to select from – to play alongside Dickson Etuhu, presumeably.
Even that was not 100 per cent guaranteed with weekend reports linking Derby to a second Norfolk swoop following their ?3.5 million capture of Robert Earnshaw last week – a new Rams transfer record.
One that could be beaten again, confirmed Derby boss Billy Davies today as he told www.therams.co.uk that he had many an iron in the fire. Whether Etuhu figured on his summer hit list having managed the player at Preston North End remains a big question.
“We will be signing many – there are about 25 plates spinning at the moment,” said Davies. “Will we break the transfer record again? It is a possibility, yes.”
“I'll be delighted if Youssef decides to stay – that means you've got competition, that you've two excellent midfield players,” said Grant, at pains to point out that some stage someone is going to have to make him an offer for the player. Safri is, after all, still under contract at Carrow Road.
“But if he decides pastures new, that's a decision that I will make at somewhere along the line as well because nobody's spoken to me about it – and Youssef is still in contract.”
As for in-comings, Grant repeated the suggestion that he had one or two more loose ends to tie up before pausing for breath, taking stock and then maybe have one final dabble before the transfer window closes for good again on August 31.
“I still feel that there's one or two areas of the pitch where we're a little short if we get an injury – but no specifics,” he said.
“As I say, I still think we're one or two short. If we could get one or two more in as definites, that would balance us and then I can look at the market, take my time and see how the boys come through pre-season.”
Clearly he felt that Brellier arrival brought an extra dimension to his midfield options – the kind of tactical nous you would expect from a player nicknamed 'The Judge' being principal among them.
“I think he's a different midfielder to what we have,” said Grant, speaking at his second Press conference in two days. There was an air of 'Same time, same place…' to proceedings which suggested that the Brellier 'do' won't be the last of the week.
“Some guys are good passers; some guys are good players technically – and I think Julien gives us a bit of both,” Grant continued. “But maybe a better understanding than most of the other boys that we have.
“He understands the game and his tactical awareness is probably where you'd put him top of the list.
“So he's a different type – there's no point bringing someone in who is going to be the same as. That's very important.
“That the ones that we try and bring in are different to the ones that we already have here. And I think Julien's different – there's no doubt about that.”
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