Not for the first time this summer, all eyes were on South-East London this morning as the summer's transfer merry-go-round threatened to spin back into life again.
Speaking last week, City chief Bryan Gunn ear-marked the next 24 hours as the likely time for at least one more fresh face to arrive following his early capture of Messrs Nelson, Gill and Tudur Jones.
As for his first priority, that was filling both the No9 and the No1 shirts before pre-season was out.
And sure enough, the name of Nicky Weaver was thrown into the mix overnight as the ex-Manchester City and Charlton keeper was reported to be – potentially – Norfolk-bound.
Not that he was the only keeper set for a move out of South-East London as the Croydon Guardian this morning claimed that Eagles No2 Darryl Flahavan was also off in serach of first team football.
Indeed, just to complicate the picture slightly further Palace chief Neil Warnock also suggested that ex-City No2 Stuart Nelson could be on his way to Selhurst Park on the recommnendation of the club's goalkeeping coach, Jim Stannard.
“Darryl would like to play first-team football this year so Jim Stannard is looking at other alternatives and I believe Stuart is one of them,” Warnock told the newspaper today.
Flahavan – once of Southend – spent a frustrating loan spell at Leeds United last season where he failed to make a single appearance.
But with 180 league appearances under his belt for the Shrimpers in the course of that five-year career at Roots Hall, he would certainly know his way around the league's lower reaches.
They might be pastures new for Weaver who was released on a free out of The Valley last week as the Addicks desperately look to cut their cloth according to their own, new-found third tier status.
The one-time England Under-21 keeper does, however, have height on his side. At six-foot three-inches tall, he enjoys an extra four inches on fellow 30-year-old Flahavan. Given that all and sundry this summer have stressed time and again the need for the Canaries to get 'big' into their locker, it could prove all-important when the choice comes down to one free transfer or another.
In the meantime, Warnock was also shedding fresh light on the Alan Lee transfer saga – suggesting that last season's loan arrival would not now be renewing his acquaintance with the Canaries on a full-time basis.
“It's not close as far as I'm aware,” Warnock told the paper. “I know he has spoken to them in the past, but I don't think there is anything going on there.”
That Lee would have jumped at a return to Carrow Road was never in doubt. And that Warnock was willing to offload him was also not an issue.
Indeed, just last week the Eagles' chief was issuing a 'Make me an offer…' line to Gunn as the City boss continued his quest to bring a big No9 into the building.
?Alan has his heart set on a move to Norwich,? Warnock told reporters. ?I've spoken to Bryan Gunn and told him to make a bid for Alan if he wants him.?
Which all sounded fine on paper; as ever the devil would be in the detail. Still under contract at Selhurst Park, the 30-year-old was always going to come with a fee attached.
He was also always going to come with a reasonable wage demand. That whilst a switch to Norfolk would be ideal for his Dedham Vale base, the former Ipswich Town striker still knows his value in the Championship market place – he was never about to arrive for nothing.
Gunn could yet, therefore, continue to nibble away at Derby County's resistance in the shape of 23-year-old Liam Dickinson. The Rams have already confirmed that the Canaries have had two nibbles at the six-foot four-inch frontman and with the clock fast ticking down to the start of pre-season proper, so all concerned might be keen on a deal – particularly if the Lee switch is now, officially, dead in the water.
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